Food Chains: Definitions
Food chain: linear arrangement of energy and organic matter transfer (more realistically: ? food web)
Primary producers = (photo)autotrophs ? primary production
Consumers = heterotrophs, i.e. must get energy from other organisms or organic matter
Primary consumers = herbivores (plant eaters)
Secondary consumers = carnivores (eat the herbivores)
Tertiary consumers = carnivores (eat the herbivorous carnivores)
Decomposers break down organic matter; detrivores = live off dead organisms and organic matter
Secondary production = sum of all heterotrophic production
Trophic level = group of organisms that gain energy in similar ways (live off similar food, e.g. herbivores, tertiary consumers)