Question

Identify ALL of the organisms that are tertiary consumers.

Group of answer choices

seagull

penguin

elephant seal

leopard seal

blue whale

killer whale

squid

fish

krill

crab

seaweed

phytoplankton

zooplankton

Answer 1

Tertiary consumers are organisms that are typically at the top of the food chain and consume secondary consumers. Based on the organisms you've listed, the likely tertiary consumers would be:

1. **Seagull** - While they can vary in diet, they often eat fish and other organisms.
2. **Penguin** - Penguins primarily eat fish and krill, making them secondary consumers, but some larger species can be tertiary consumers.
3. **Elephant Seal** - They mainly feed on fish and squid, making them tertiary consumers.
4. **Leopard Seal** - They primarily prey on penguins and fish, making them a clear tertiary consumer.
5. **Blue Whale** - They primarily feed on krill, which are primary consumers, so they're not a tertiary consumer.
6. **Killer Whale** - As apex predators, they can be considered tertiary consumers as they prey on seals, sea lions, and other fish.
7. **Squid** - Depending on the species, squid can be secondary or tertiary consumers, but many are top predators in their ecosystems.
8. **Fish** - This designation is too broad, as many fish are primarily consumers, but some can be secondary consumers.
9. **Krill** - They are primary consumers, primarily feeding on phytoplankton.
10. **Crab** - Some crabs may be secondary consumers depending on their diet, but many are scavengers.
11. **Seaweed** - This is a primary producer, not a consumer.
12. **Phytoplankton** - These are primary producers, not consumers.
13. **Zooplankton** - Often primary consumers, feeding on phytoplankton.

Based on this understanding, the primary identified tertiary consumers from your options are:

- Leopard seal
- Killer whale
- Elephant seal (possibly depending on diet)

The presence of specific species in these groups may vary, and there may be nuances in different ecosystems that affect their classification.