Trophic levels show an organism's rank in the food chain, from producers to top predators. Algae are at the lowest trophic level as primary producers.
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Energy Flow
'Trophic' can refer to energy flow in ecosystems, from the sun to herbivores and carnivores. A trophic pyramid illustrates energy reduction at higher levels.
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Ecosystem Dynamics
Understanding 'trophic' is key to studying ecosystem dynamics and balance. Scientists study trophic cascades to understand predator-prey relationships.