Trophic Levels in AP Environmental Science

Definition

Trophic levels refer to the different levels in a food chain or food web where organisms obtain energy. Each level represents a different position in the transfer of energy, with producers at the bottom and top predators at the highest level.

Related terms

Autotrophs:

Autotrophs are organisms that can produce their own food using sunlight or chemical reactions as an energy source.

Producers: Producers are autotrophic organisms, such as plants, algae, and some bacteria, that convert sunlight into chemical energy through photosynthesis.

Consumers:

Consumers are heterotrophic organisms that obtain their energy by consuming other organisms. They include herbivores, carnivores, and omnivores.