What is a trophic level in an ecosystem?

A trophic level in an ecosystem refers to the position an organism occupies in a food chain or food web, highlighting its role in the flow of energy and nutrients. Each level represents a different pathway of energy transfer through consumption, starting from primary producers at the base—such as plants and phytoplankton—through various levels of consumers, such as herbivores and carnivores. This hierarchy reflects the relationships and dependencies among organisms, illustrating how energy is transferred and transformed within an ecosystem. Understanding trophic levels is essential for studying the dynamics of ecosystems, ecological interactions, and energy balance.