Vampire squid (Vampyroteuthisinfernalis) are deep-sea cephalopods with features similar to both octopus and squid. Extensive video recordings show the diet of the vampire squid consists of items like crustacean remains and fecal pellets. Which of the following terms describes the position of the vampire squid in the deep-sea trophic pyramid?

Question

A.  herbivore
B.  primary producer
C.  primary carnivore
D.  secondary carnivore
E.  detritivore
Clarify Question
· What is the key concept addressed by the question?
· What type of thinking is required?
 
Gather Content
· What do you already know about trophic levels?
 
Choose Answer
· Given what you now know, what information and/or problem solving approach is most likely to produce the correct answer?
 
Reflect on Process
· Did your problem-solving process lead you to the correct answer? If not, where did the process break down or lead you astray? How can you revise your approach to produce a more desirable result?
 

Answer 1

E.  detritivore

Clarify Question
· What is the key concept addressed by the question?
        o This question addresses trophic levels.
· What type of thinking is required?
        o This question is asking you to take what you already know and apply it to this unfamiliar situation.
 
Gather Content
· What do you already know about trophic levels?
        o The first trophic level in an ecosystem, called the primary producers, consists of all the autotrophs in the system. These are usually photosynthetic organisms – plants, algae and cyanobacteria. At deep sea vents, however, the primary producers are chemosynthetic microbes.
        o The other trophic levels consist of the heterotrophs—the consumers. All the heterotrophs that feed directly on the primary producers are placed together in a trophic level called the herbivores.
        o In turn, the heterotrophs that feed on the herbivores (eating them or being parasitic on them) are collectively termed primary carnivores, and those that feed on the primary carnivores are called secondary carnivores.
        o An additional consumer level is the detritivore trophic level. Detritivores feed on the remains of already dead organisms.
 
Choose Answer
· Given what you now know, what information and/or problem solving approach is most likely to produce the correct answer?
        o Since the vampire squid feed on bits of dead organic matter, that makes them detritivores.
 
Reflect on Process
· Did your problem-solving process lead you to the correct answer? If not, where did the process break down or lead you astray? How can you revise your approach to produce a more desirable result?
        o The question required you to take what you already know and apply it to this unfamiliar situation.
        o Did you recognize that detritivores are organisms that feed on dead organic matter?