In the ecological pyramid shown, the hawk is the Quaternary Consumer.
Quaternary Consumer in the Food Chain
Quaternary Consumer in the Food Web
Why are Quaternary Consumers So Rare
Examples of Quaternary Consumers
In this terrestrial food chain, the hawk is the quaternary consumer that feeds on snakes, the tertiary consumer. It also happens to be the apex predator of the food chain. Similarly, in the ocean food chain, large sharks are the quaternary consumers that feed on smaller sharks, the tertiary producer. They also receive the least amount of the original energy absorbed by the plants, as 10% of the energy is lost in each successive trophic level of the energy pyramid. For this reason, higher-level consumers must eat large quantities of food to stay alive.
EaglesLionsTigersPolar bearsSharksCrocodilesSharksLarge whales
