Tertiary consumers

Definition

Tertiary consumers are organisms that consume secondary consumers within a food chain. They are typically carnivores that occupy the top trophic levels of an ecosystem.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Tertiary consumers play a crucial role in maintaining the balance of ecosystems by controlling the population of secondary consumers.
2. Examples of tertiary consumers include large predators like lions, eagles, and sharks.
3. They are less abundant than primary and secondary consumers due to energy loss at each trophic level.
4. Tertiary consumers can be omnivorous, meaning they might also consume plants or other producers occasionally.
5. The presence of tertiary consumers is often an indicator of a healthy and stable ecosystem.

Review Questions

• What role do tertiary consumers play in an ecosystem?
• Can you name two examples of tertiary consumers?
• Why are tertiary consumers less abundant than primary and secondary consumers?

Related terms

Primary Consumers: Organisms that feed on primary producers such as plants or algae.

Secondary Consumers: Organisms that eat primary consumers; they can be carnivores or omnivores.

Trophic Levels: The hierarchical levels in a food chain, where each level represents a step in energy transfer.