Primary & Secondary Consumers
Primary Consumers
Primary consumers are organisms that feed directly on primary producers. Among animals, these organisms are often termed grazers or herbivores and often feed on plants or algae. While zebras, giraffes and cattle may easily come to mind as primary consumers, many primary consumers are much smaller, such as insect pests of crops. The energy and nutrients absorbed from the primary producers is incorporated in the cells and tissues of the primary consumer which, in turn, may become the food source for other levels of animals.
Secondary and Other Consumers
Secondary Consumers feed on primary consumers and are exemplified by predator-prey relationships and would also apply to parasites of primary consumers. The food and nutrients needed by secondary consumers is obtained through the flesh and tissue of the primary consumer. Some secondary and subsequent trophic level consumers are considered keystone species since their feeding habits may control the populations within the ecosystem. Tertiary consumers feed on other predators. These tertiary consumers may, in turn, be fed upon other consumers. Sea urchins feeding on kelp, a primary producer, would be primary consumers. Sea otters feeding on the sea urchins would be secondary consumers. The chain of these species are important because they help create population control.
Primary consumers are organisms that feed directly on primary producers. Among animals, these organisms are often termed grazers or herbivores and often feed on plants or algae. While zebras, giraffes and cattle may easily come to mind as primary consumers, many primary consumers are much smaller, such as insect pests of crops. The energy and nutrients absorbed from the primary producers is incorporated in the cells and tissues of the primary consumer which, in turn, may become the food source for other levels of animals.
Secondary and Other Consumers
Secondary Consumers feed on primary consumers and are exemplified by predator-prey relationships and would also apply to parasites of primary consumers. The food and nutrients needed by secondary consumers is obtained through the flesh and tissue of the primary consumer. Some secondary and subsequent trophic level consumers are considered keystone species since their feeding habits may control the populations within the ecosystem. Tertiary consumers feed on other predators. These tertiary consumers may, in turn, be fed upon other consumers. Sea urchins feeding on kelp, a primary producer, would be primary consumers. Sea otters feeding on the sea urchins would be secondary consumers. The chain of these species are important because they help create population control.