Trophic level
- Pronunciation
- /troh-fik lev-el/
- Category
- Ecology
- Singular
- Trophic level
- Plural
- Trophic levels
Definition
A classification of organisms in a community according to their feeding relationships.
Etymology
From Greek 'trophos', meaning 'nourishment' and Latin 'levellum', a diminutive of 'levis', meaning 'light' or 'easy'.
Example
Green plants are considered the first trophic level, while insects that feed on plants are classified as second trophic levels.