Question

1. label each organism in the food chain below as a producer, secondary consumer, tertiary consumer, or primary consumer. write one term in each box.

grass → grasshopper → shrew → owl

1. imagine that a new species of snake moves into the ecosystem that includes the food chain above. this snake eats small rodents like the shrew and quickly begins to eat the shrew. predict what will happen to the populations of the other organisms in the food chain when the snake enters the ecosystem by filling in the chart below.

Explanation:

Step1: Identify producer

Producers are organisms that make their own food (usually via photosynthesis). Grass makes its own food.
Grass: producer

Step2: Identify primary consumer

Primary consumers eat producers. Grasshopper eats grass.
Grasshopper: primary consumer

Step3: Identify secondary consumer

Secondary consumers eat primary consumers. Shrew eats grasshopper.
Shrew: secondary consumer

Step4: Identify tertiary consumer

Tertiary consumers eat secondary consumers. Owl eats shrew.
Owl: tertiary consumer

Answer:

Grass: producer, Grasshopper: primary consumer, Shrew: secondary consumer, Owl: tertiary consumer