Science glossary film: Trophic level

The position an organism occupies within a food chain. The first level contains producers such as green plants. The second trophic level contains herbivores, like these plant-eating insects. The third contains carnivores, such as chameleons in this example. If a food chain has a fourth trophic level, it's also occupied by carnivores, here a bird of prey. Carnivores that are not preyed upon by any other animals are known as top carnivores, and occupy the highest trophic level of the food chain.

The first level contains producers such as green plants. The second trophic level contains herbivores, like these plant-eating insects. The third contains carnivores, such as chameleons in this example. If a food chain has a fourth trophic level, it's also occupied by carnivores, here a bird of prey. Carnivores that are not preyed upon by any other animals are known as top carnivores, and occupy the highest trophic level of the food chain.