Which one of the following animals may occupy more than one trophic level in the same ecosystem at the same time?

Options

A. Sparrow
B. Mice
C. Goat
D. Frog

Answer

To solve the question "Which one of the following animals may occupy more than one trophic level in the same ecosystem at the same time?", we can follow these steps:

### Step 1: Understand Trophic Levels
Trophic levels represent the position of organisms in a food chain or food web based on what they eat. The primary levels are:
- **Autotrophs (Producers)**: These are organisms that produce their own food, like plants.
- **Primary Consumers**: Herbivores that eat plants.
- **Secondary Consumers**: Carnivores that eat primary consumers.
- **Tertiary Consumers**: Carnivores that eat secondary consumers.

### Step 2: Analyze the Options
We need to evaluate each option to determine if any animal can occupy more than one trophic level at the same time.

1. **Sparrow**: Sparrows eat grains (plants) and insects (which are primary consumers). This means they can be classified as both primary consumers (when eating plants) and secondary consumers (when eating insects).

2. **Mice**: Mice primarily eat grains and seeds (plants), making them primary consumers only.

3. **Goat**: Goats are herbivores and primarily consume plants, placing them at the primary consumer level only.

4. **Frog**: Frogs can be considered secondary consumers as they eat insects (primary consumers) but do not occupy multiple levels simultaneously.

### Step 3: Identify the Correct Answer
From the analysis:
- The **Sparrow** is the only animal that occupies more than one trophic level (both primary and secondary consumers).

### Conclusion
The correct answer is **Sparrow**.

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