Trophic Levels and Energy Flow

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SAT Subject Test in Biology › Trophic Levels and Energy Flow

Questions 1 - 3
1

Which of the following would be considered a primary consumer?

Rabbit

Grass

Snake

Hawk

Fungus

Explanation

A primary consumer is a herbivore that consumes only producers or autotrophs. For this question, rabbits only eat plants and so they would be considered the primary consumers. Grass and other organisms that can manufacture their own food are classified as primary producers. Snakes and hawks hunt other animals (such as rabbits) for food, so they must be at least secondary consumers. Fungi break down dead organisms for nutrition and are thus classified as decomposers.

2

Which of the following is an example of primary consumers?

Deer eating grass

Algae

Foxes eating squirrels

Fungi that gain energy from detritus

Grass

Explanation

A primary consumer is any animal that consumes primary producers (autotrophs). Autotrophs consist of any creatures that create their own energy (in the form of sugars) from sunlight. Grass and algae would be considered autotrophs. Deer are the only animals shown here that consume autotrophs and are, therefore, primary consumers.

3

Which of the following is not a primary producer?

Mushrooms

Kelp

Grasses

Mosses

Ferns

Explanation

A mushroom is a decomposer and not a producer. All of the other options are photosynthetic producers.

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