Question

What will happen if we kill all the organisms at one trophic level?

Answer 1

Hint: The interaction among the species is the basis of formation of the ecosystem and the nutrient cycles occurring in the different environmental conditions. The primary source of energy in all of the ecosystems is the sun. Only some percent of the total energy is passed on from one trophic level to the next trophic.

Complete answer: A group of organisms of different species which occupy the same level in a food chain is termed as a trophic level. The interaction among the organisms at different trophic levels is responsible for the formation of food chains and food webs which are composed of producers and consumers. There are 5 major trophic levels within a food chain explained as follows:
a) The first trophic level comprises primary producers which are capable of making their own food. Primary producers synthesise their own food using the sun as a source of energy, for example, plants and algae. They are also known as autotrophs.
b) The second trophic level comprises herbivores that are heterotrophs. These organisms gain energy by eating autotrophs. They are also known as primary consumers.
The Third trophic Level consists of secondary consumers that consume primary consumers for gaining energy
c) Tertiary consumers are present at level four. It comprises carnivorous and herbivorous which eat secondary consumers.
d) The trophic level five consists of organisms that have no natural predators. These organisms are called Apex predators.
If we kill all the organisms of one trophic level, it will lead to an increase in the number of organisms at the lower trophic level and decrease in the number of organisms at the higher trophic level. This will result in disruption in the food web and hence the ecosystem.

Note: Law of energy flow: According to this law only 10 percent of the total energy is passed on from one trophic level to the next trophic level in a food chain. The rest of the energy is lost during transfer, broken down in respiration or lost to incomplete digestion by higher trophic level.