Animal Food Pyramid: Trophic Pyramid Food Chain for Animals
Food chains are a vital part of an earth animal‘s food pyramid, illustrating the flow of food energy from one trophic level to the next. At the base of the trophic pyramid are herbivores that make their own food by consuming plants. These primary consumers are then eaten by carnivores, the secondary consumers, which in turn may be consumed by tertiary consumers. The apex predator sits at the top, relying on other animals for food to get their nutrients. When an animal consumes another, energy is lost, making each step up the food chain less efficient in terms of biomass and energy for metabolic processes.
Healthy Food
It’s important for an earth animal’s healthy food pyramid to include aquatic food sources, such as fish and algae, in addition to land-based options. While some tertiary consumers may scavenge scraps of human food, they require a balanced diet that includes essential amino acids cannot be produced in their bodies. Examples of whole foods are necessary, as relying on human food to get nutrients can have negative effects on an animal’s health, also decreasing their energy levels over time.