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G.2.3 Discuss the difficulties of classifying organisms into trophic levels.

 

 

     - Relationship of ecosystem goes further than just food chains and pyramid. A food web gives a true but complicated picture of what is being eaten in an ecosystem.

 

 

     - It is difficult to classify organisms into trophic levels because one organism may be considered tertiary consumer when it is eating other carnivores, but  a secondary consumer when it is eating an herbivore

          ex) An eagle is a tertiary consumer when eating rattlesnakes but a secondary consumer when eating rabbits

 

 

     - Another difficulty is where to put omnivores because they can become both primary consumers, secondary consumers, or tertiary consumers.

          ex) Raccoons eat mice, bird eggs, fish, frogs, nuts and fruits.

 

 

 

 http://www.jenningsk12.net/WE/peimann/Science/FoodChains/Foodchains.html

 

 

 

http://media.decentcomedy.com/2010/croc3.jpg