Energy Transfer in a Food Web
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Which arrows show energy moving from a secondary consumer to a tertiary consumer? Select all that apply.
- the arrow between the striped house snake and the African civet
- the arrow between the bushpig and the lion
- the arrow between the brown shield bug and the flycatcher
This question includes visual content: A food web diagram showing various animals and plants (bacteria, fly larva, flycatcher, desert date, emperor moth caterpillar, lion, ostrich, brown shield bug, African civet, zebra, springhare, grass, striped house snake, bushpig) connected by multiple directed arrows indicating energy flow. The diagram uses circular portraits for some species and standard illustrations for others, all set in a savanna-like environment.
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Step by Step Written Solution
Hi Tyler, let's solve this problem by identifying the Trophic levels in this food web. We need to find arrows showing energy moving from a secondary consumer to a tertiary consumer.
Analyzing the Food Web
In a food web, the arrows represent the flow of energy. Let's start by defining our terms.
| Trophic Level | Role |
|---|---|
| Producers | Make their own food (e.g., Grass) |
| Primary Consumers | Eat producers |
| Secondary Consumers | Eat primary consumers |
| Tertiary Consumers | Eat secondary consumers |
First, let's look at the arrow between the striped house snake and the African civet. We follow the energy chain starting from the grass.
Chain 1
Grass (Producer) → Springhare (Primary) → Snake (Secondary) → African Civet (Tertiary)
Since the snake is a secondary consumer and the civet eats it, this arrow shows energy moving from a secondary consumer to a tertiary consumer. So, this is a correct choice.
Next, let's examine the arrow between the bushpig and the lion. Let's trace back from the bushpig.
Chain 2
Desert Date (Producer) → Bushpig (Primary) → Lion (Secondary)
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