Question

An animal that mainly eats other animals is called a carnivore. Some animals, such as domestic cats, are strict carnivores that only eat other animals. What trophic level(s) in a food chain can a strict carnivore never occupy?

Answer 1

The first and second levels

Answer 2

Answer: Trophic levels 1 and 2

Explanation:

Trophic levels pertains to organisms with similar feeding relationships in a biotic community.

There are usually five(5) trophic levels in a food chain.

Trophic level 1 - has primary producers (usually green plants)

Trophic level 2 - has herbivore (animals that feed on plants)

Trophic level 3 - has secondary consumers ( animals that feed on plants AND flesh e.g carnivores and omnivores)

Trophic level 4 - has tertiary consumers (animals that feed on secondary consumers e.g carnivores)

Trophic level 5 - has apex predators (animals that feed ONLY on flesh of other animals, and cannot be fed on)

Note, STRICT CARNIVORES can never occupy Trophic levels 1 and 2