Answer:
Sun energy >>> Grass >>> Mouse >>> Fox >>> Puma/Mountain Lion>>>Microorganisms.
Explanation:
Organisms that can synthesize inorganic substances, such as light, and turn it into food according to their own needs are producers, and they are called autotrophic organisms. These organisms are by excellence all plants, that photosynthesize. Organisms that are incapable of producing their food are called heterotrophic. They depend on other organisms from the trophic chain such as plants or other animals to feed on, so they can get proteins and energy. In the trophic chain, heterotrophic organisms occupy the first, second, or third consumer level, after producers.
The trophic web is the process of energy transference through a series of organisms, in which every organism feeds on the preceding one and becomes food for the next one. The first link is an autotroph organism or producer, such as a vegetable, that can synthesize organic matter from inorganic matter. The next links are the consumers: herbivores are primary consumers and feed on producers. Carnivores are secondary consumers and feed on herbivores, and so on. The last links are the decomposers, microorganisms that act on dead animals degrading organic matter.
In the exposed example of a food web for Grassland, we can differentiate:
- Producer: Grass. An autotrophic organism that synthesizes organic matter from the sun energy. These species reproduce sexually and produce seeds for dispersion. These seeds are also an important source of food for many animals.
- Herbivores (Primary consumer): Mouse. A heterotrophic animal that feeds on the seeds of the grasses.
- Carnivore (Secondary consumer): Fox. A carnivore heterotrophic animal that hunts mouses and feeds on them.
- Carnivore (Tertiary or superior consumer): Puma/Mountain lion. A superior consumer, carnivore heterotrophic animal that hunts foxes and feeds on them.
- Decomposers: Microorganisms. When the puma dies, these organisms degrade the animal´s organic matter
