The image is a food web for a forest ecosystem. Fungi and bacteria decompose the bodies of organisms. Here, the _____ are tertiary consumers. The matter is recycled in the ecosystem by ______.

1a. small birds
1b. snakes
1c. hawks and owls

2a. producers
2b. decomposers
2c. consumers

Blank 1: hawks and owls

Explanation: Tertiary consumers lie on the top of the food web or pyramid. They are dependent on other organisms for their food. These are carnivores by mode of nutrition. Here, the food web sequence would be like-

small birds----->snakes----->hawks and owls.

That's why they are the tertiary consumers.

Blank 2: decomposers

Explanation: The organic matter of dead plants and animals is decomposed by decomposers. They breakdown the complex organic compounds into simpler substances.