Which group of organisms typically comprises the fourth trophic level?

The fourth trophic level is typically occupied by tertiary consumers. These organisms are carnivores that eat secondary consumers, which in turn eat primary consumers (herbivores) that rely on producers (plants) as their energy source. In ecological food webs, energy transfer diminishes at each trophic level due to energy loss through metabolic processes and heat. This means that tertiary consumers usually have fewer individuals and occupy a higher level of the food chain, reflecting their role as top predators. Understanding this structure is key in studying energy flow and nutrient cycling within ecosystems.

Primary consumers would not be found in this level as they are directly after producers. Producers, being the foundational level, convert solar energy into biomass through photosynthesis, and secondary consumers are those that feed on primary consumers but do not reach the top level occupied by tertiary consumers.