Question

Based on the Food Web, which of these statements is true?



(1 point)
Responses

The limpet is a secondary consumer.
The limpet is a secondary consumer.

The octopus is a primary consumer.
The octopus is a primary consumer.

The shark is a producer.
The shark is a producer.

The zooplankton is a primary consumer.

Answer 1

Based on typical food web definitions and levels of consumers:

- **Primary consumers** are usually herbivores that eat producers (like plants or phytoplankton).
- **Secondary consumers** are typically carnivores that eat primary consumers.
- **Producers** are organisms that produce energy through photosynthesis or chemosynthesis, like plants or algae.

Given these definitions:

- The **limpet** is generally a grazer that feeds on algae, making it a **primary consumer**.
- The **octopus** is a predatory animal, typically acting as a **secondary consumer**, as it eats primary consumers like crabs or fish.
- The **shark** is also a **secondary or tertiary consumer**, depending on its diet, as it primarily eats fish (which can be primary or secondary consumers).
- **Zooplankton** are generally classified as primary consumers since they feed on phytoplankton (producers).

Therefore, the statement that is TRUE based on these food web dynamics is:

**The zooplankton is a primary consumer.**