Principles of Environmental Science
Principles of Environmental Science
8th Edition
ISBN: 9780078036071
Author: William P Cunningham Prof., Mary Ann Cunningham Professor
Publisher: McGraw-Hill Education
Question
Book Icon
Chapter 2, Problem 1AL
To determine

The food webs an individual belongs; to list the food eaten today and trace the energy it contained back to its photosynthetic source; whether the individual is at same trophic level in all the food webs in which he participated; The ways that could change the biological role; whether that make food available for other people; why or why not.

Expert Solution & Answer
Check Mark

Answer to Problem 1AL

Humans do not fall into the same trophic level it depends on the food habit of an individual. Some are carnivores and some are omnivores. As result, plants get a chance to recover.

Explanation of Solution

Food web is a graphical representation of what an organism eats and what eats that organisms, it is an interconnected chain. At the base, the plant is kept as they are the primary producers, at the second herbivores are placed that feeds on green plants, at the third carnivores are placed, that eat animals and at the fourth level omnivores are kept that eats both plants and animals.

Humans fall into the third and fourth trophic level. This is because the food habit of humans differs, some are animals or meat eater and some eat both plants and animals. Humans that eat deer or cow fall under the third level in the trophic but there are also humans, who eat salmons that fall under the fourth level.

The diet of today’s include- rice, chicken, and rajma. Rice and rajma are the autotrophs that can make their own food. Where else the chickens are carnivores that eat both plants and small insects.

No, we are not at the same trophic level because if individuals eat meat (carnivores) then that individual falls under third trophic level but if an individual eats both plants and animal (omnivores) than that individual will fall under the fourth level.

Yes, there may be a change in the ecological role that can make food more available like if all humans fall in the same trophic level there be less number of plants available. But as some individuals are carnivores as well as omnivores, it provides a chance to the plants to recover. As a result, there will be more numbers of the plants.

Want to see more full solutions like this?

Subscribe now to access step-by-step solutions to millions of textbook problems written by subject matter experts!
Knowledge Booster
Background pattern image
Recommended textbooks for you
Text book image
Applications and Investigations in Earth Science ...
Earth Science
ISBN:9780134746241
Author:Edward J. Tarbuck, Frederick K. Lutgens, Dennis G. Tasa
Publisher:PEARSON
Text book image
Exercises for Weather & Climate (9th Edition)
Earth Science
ISBN:9780134041360
Author:Greg Carbone
Publisher:PEARSON
Text book image
Environmental Science
Earth Science
ISBN:9781260153125
Author:William P Cunningham Prof., Mary Ann Cunningham Professor
Publisher:McGraw-Hill Education
Text book image
Earth Science (15th Edition)
Earth Science
ISBN:9780134543536
Author:Edward J. Tarbuck, Frederick K. Lutgens, Dennis G. Tasa
Publisher:PEARSON
Text book image
Environmental Science (MindTap Course List)
Earth Science
ISBN:9781337569613
Author:G. Tyler Miller, Scott Spoolman
Publisher:Cengage Learning
Text book image
Physical Geology
Earth Science
ISBN:9781259916823
Author:Plummer, Charles C., CARLSON, Diane H., Hammersley, Lisa
Publisher:Mcgraw-hill Education,