Humans can be tertiary consumers, but their position in the food chain depends on what they eat. Since humans are omnivores, they consume plants (producers), herbivores (primary consumers), and carnivores (secondary consumers), which can place them at multiple trophic levels, including primary, secondary, tertiary, and even apex consumers depending on the food chain context. For example, when humans consume herbivores like cows, they act as secondary consumers. When they consume carnivores that eat herbivores, humans become tertiary consumers. Thus, humans are often considered tertiary consumers because they consume secondary consumers, but this is not exclusive; their dietary habits determine their specific role in a given food chain. In summary, humans are generally tertiary consumers in many food chains but may also be primary or secondary consumers depending on their diet.