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Secondary Consumers

Definition

Secondary consumers are organisms that feed on primary consumers. They occupy the third trophic level in a food chain or web.

Analogy

Think of secondary consumers as the "middlemen" in a business transaction. Just like how middlemen buy products from producers and sell them to customers, secondary consumers eat primary consumers to obtain energy.

Related terms

Primary Consumers: Organisms that directly consume producers for energy.

Trophic Level: Each step in a food chain or web, representing the transfer of energy and nutrients.

Carnivores: Animals that primarily eat other animals.

"Secondary Consumers" appears in:

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AP® and SAT® are trademarks registered by the College Board, which is not affiliated with, and does not endorse this website.