What are the definitions and examples of First - Third Level Consumers (Energy Pyramid)?

Answer 1

There are 3 levels of the trophic pyramid. The first and largest group is the primary producers (plants ect.). Then there is the middle group (the consumers) that eat the plants. And last and the smallest group is the carnivores which eat the consumers. There can also be carnivores that eat other carnivores such as a bird eating a frog. The food chain can be very complex and this is a very simple way of explaining it. Energy is given by the sun, turned into plant matter, eaten by herbivores, and the herbivores eaten by carnivores or the top apex predator. Life sucks if your not at the top : )

Answer 2

Plants are the producers - they take the sun's energy and inorganic stuff (water, soil) and convert it into a form all other life can use.

A first order consumer would be anything that eats the producers - let's say an insect like a grasshopper.

A second order consumer eats the first order producers - let's say a frog.

A third order consumer eats the second order consumers - maybe a snake or big fish.

Just keep adding something bigger that eats the level before it and add another number!