Question

below is a food web from joshua tree national park, a desert ecosystem in southern california. which organisms are tertiary consumers in this food web? select all that apply. desert woodrat creosote bush coyote grasshopper mouse desert iguana

Explanation:

Step1: Understand the concept of tertiary consumers

Tertiary consumers are organisms that eat secondary consumers. They are at the fourth trophic level in a food chain.

Step2: Analyze each organism

• Desert woodrat: It is a primary consumer as it feeds on plants (e.g., creosote bush).
• Creosote bush: It is a producer (autotroph), not a consumer.
• Coyote: It can eat secondary consumers (e.g., kit fox which may eat primary consumers). So, it can be a tertiary consumer.
• Grasshopper mouse: It is a secondary consumer (e.g., may eat grasshoppers which are primary consumers).
• Desert iguana: It is a primary consumer as it feeds on plants (e.g., beavertail cactus).

Answer:

coyote