Savannah Biome Food web with 15 different species that includes tertiary consumer, primary consumer, secondary consumer, producers

Savannah Biome Food web with 15 different species that includes tertiary consumer, primary consumer, secondary consumer, producers

The Correct Answer and Explanation is:

In a savannah biome, the food web represents the complex feeding relationships between organisms in the ecosystem, from producers (plants) to tertiary consumers (top predators). Here’s a sample food web with 15 species:

Producers (Plants)

1. Grass (e.g., Themeda triandra)
2. Acacia Tree (e.g., Acacia tortilis)
3. Baobab Tree (e.g., Adansonia digitata)

Primary Consumers (Herbivores)

4. Zebra (Equus quagga)
5. Giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis)
6. Impala (Aepyceros melampus)
7. Warthog (Phacochoerus africanus)
8. Grasshopper (Caelifera)

Secondary Consumers (Carnivores)

9. Cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus) – Feeds on herbivores like impalas.
10. Hyena (Crocuta crocuta) – Scavenger, feeds on carcasses of herbivores and sometimes predators.
11. African Wild Dog (Lycaon pictus) – Hunts in packs to catch impalas and other herbivores.
12. Secretary Bird (Sagittarius serpentarius) – Hunts insects and small vertebrates like rodents.

Tertiary Consumers (Top Predators)

13. Lion (Panthera leo) – Apex predator, preys on herbivores and smaller carnivores.
14. Leopard (Panthera pardus) – Hunts herbivores like gazelles and smaller carnivores like wild dogs.
15. Crocodile (Crocodylus niloticus) – Apex predator, preys on both terrestrial and aquatic animals, including antelope near water sources.

Food Web Explanation:

In the savannah biome food web, producers like grass, acacia, and baobab trees form the base, as they use sunlight to produce energy. Primary consumers such as zebras, giraffes, and impalas feed on these plants. Secondary consumers, including cheetahs and wild dogs, eat these herbivores, while hyenas may scavenge their carcasses. The tertiary consumers, like lions and leopards, are at the top of the food web and have no natural predators. They prey on both herbivores and secondary consumers.

In this web, energy flows upward from producers to apex predators. Energy is lost at each trophic level (about 90% per level), which is why there are fewer top predators than herbivores in the ecosystem. These relationships are interconnected, and the removal of one species can significantly impact the entire system. For example, if lions (tertiary consumers) decline in number, herbivore populations like zebras and giraffes could increase dramatically, possibly leading to overgrazing of grasses. Conversely, a reduction in primary consumers could lead to an increase in plant biomass.

This web highlights the delicate balance between the different levels in the ecosystem, where each species plays a crucial role in maintaining stability.