1. Producers (Plants):
- Plants are the primary producers in a food chain. They capture sunlight through photosynthesis and use it to convert carbon dioxide and water into glucose (energy-rich organic compounds) and oxygen.
2. Primary Consumers (Herbivores):
- Herbivores are animals that feed directly on plants. They consume the plants that have captured solar energy through photosynthesis. As they eat plants, they obtain energy from the plant tissues and convert it into their bodies' energy.
3. Secondary Consumers (Carnivores):
- Carnivores are animals that feed on other animals (herbivores or other carnivores). They obtain energy by consuming the tissues and energy stored in the bodies of their prey. As they move up the food chain, energy is transferred from one trophic level to the next.
4. Tertiary Consumers (Top Carnivores):
- Tertiary consumers are carnivores that occupy the highest trophic level in a food chain. They feed on other carnivores and do not have any natural predators. By consuming secondary or primary consumers, they capture the accumulated energy from lower trophic levels.
5. Decomposers:
- Decomposers are organisms (such as bacteria and fungi) that break down dead organic matter (plants and animals) into simpler substances. As they decompose organic material, they release nutrients back into the soil or environment, making them available for plants to use again.
At each trophic level, some energy is lost as heat and other forms of non-usable energy. Therefore, the amount of energy available to organisms decreases as you move up the food chain. This explains why there are fewer organisms at higher trophic levels compared to lower trophic levels.