Question

A grassy meadow high in the Sierra Nevada Mountains of eastern California is known to support a variety of organisms. During the summers when grass is thick and lush, and wildflowers abound, butterflies take advantage of this abundant nectar source. Bears graze on the berries in shrubs at the edge of the meadow. Deer also forage at the edge of the meadow. In the early mornings, coyotes are known to prey on the squirrel and mouse populations that burrow into the meadow soil. A variety of birds prey on the butterflies and other flying insects, such as bees and wasps. The coyotes would be classified as ____. Group of answer choices

Answer 1

carnivore and secondary consumers

Step-by-step explanation:

Carnivorous are organisms that fulfill their energy requirements by feeding animal tissues and/or meat, either hunting or scavenging. In the food chain, secondary consumers are those organisms that obtain energy by eating primary consumers (herbivores). In this case, the coyotes can be easily classified as carnivores and secondary consumers because they hunt squirrels and mice, which in turn eat autotrophic plants (primary consumers).