Question

The species in different ecosystems vary a lot. What is an example of a pattern of similarity in the feeding relationships in different ecosystems?

Options:
Option 1: Carnivores at the top of the food chain tend to have fewer predators.
Option 2: Herbivores are always the primary consumers in every ecosystem.
Option 3: Omnivores are rare in most ecosystems.
Option 4: Every ecosystem follows a completely unique pattern of feeding relationships.

Answer 1

Carnivores at the top of the food chain tend to have fewer predators.

Step-by-step explanation:

In many ecosystems, the base of the food chain consists of photosynthetic organisms, called primary producers.

The organisms that consume the primary producers are herbivores, the primary consumers. Secondary consumers are usually carnivores that eat the primary consumers.

Tertiary consumers are carnivores that eat other carnivores. Higher-level consumers feed on the next lower trophic levels, up to the organisms at the top of the food chain.

One example of a pattern of similarity in the feeding relationships in different ecosystems is that carnivores at the top of the food chain tend to have fewer predators (Option 1).

This is because as you move up the food chain, there are fewer organisms at each trophic level, so there are fewer predators overall for the top carnivores.

This pattern helps to maintain stability in ecosystems by controlling the populations of lower trophic level organisms