The term "trophic level" refers to the hierarchical positions organisms occupy in a food web or chain, based on their nutritional relationships. Each level represents a step in the energy flow from primary producers—usually plants—to various consumer levels, such as herbivores and carnivores. Typical divisions include primary producers (level 1), primary consumers (level 2), secondary consumers (level 3), and higher levels for larger predators. Understanding trophic levels is essential for studying ecosystem dynamics and energy transfer, influencing conservation strategies and resource management.