Dental Admissions Test (DAT) Practice Test

What are secondary consumers classified as in an ecosystem?

1. Plant-eaters

2. Decomposers

3. Herbivores

4. Predators of herbivores

The correct answer is: Predators of herbivores

Secondary consumers in an ecosystem are classified as predators of herbivores. These organisms occupy the third trophic level and primarily feed on primary consumers, which are the herbivores. By preying on herbivores, secondary consumers play a crucial role in controlling herbivore populations and maintaining the balance within their ecosystem. This predatory relationship highlights their significance in the food web, where energy is transferred from one trophic level to the next. Other classifications such as herbivores refer specifically to organism types that consume plants, while decomposers break down organic matter from dead organisms, recycling nutrients back into the ecosystem. Each of these roles is essential, but they do not define secondary consumers specifically.