Question

1. In an ecosystem with four levels—producers, primary consumers, and two higher-level consumers—describe where the decomposers operate relative to the other trophic levels. Provide at least TWO examples of organisms at each level.

Answer 1

Decomposers are living beings directly involved in the decomposition of dead organic matter (necromass) or excrement or excreta of living beings of different trophic levels.

The four trophic levels (with examples) are:

*Producers, such as herbs and algae.

*Herbivores, such as rabbit and sheep.

*Primary carnivores, such as wolves and eagles

*Secondary carnivores, such as lions and bears

Answer 2

Plant decomposers would operate above the producer level. Two examples are earthworms and fungi. These would decompose dead plant matter into nutrients that are then re-assimilated by plants. Animal decomposers operate within the consumer levels, and would include species such as maggots, shrimp, clams, crabs, lobsters and flatworms. Nutrients recycled by these decomposers would also be recycled back to the producers.