What term describes organisms that obtain energy by consuming other organisms?

What term describes organisms that obtain energy by consuming other organisms?

• A. Producers
• B. Decomposers
• C. Consumers
• D. Autotrophs

Answer: (C)

Energy in ecosystems moves from producers, which make their own energy, to organisms that get that energy by eating other organisms. The word that describes organisms who obtain energy by consuming others is consumers. Think of animals like rabbits that eat plants or wolves that eat other animals—their energy comes from what they eat, not from making it themselves. Producers (autotrophs) are the ones that produce energy themselves, usually through photosynthesis. Decomposers break down dead material to obtain energy, which is also a way to get energy from other organisms, but that role is usually described separately as decomposers. So the broad term that fits organisms obtaining energy by consuming other living things is consumers.

Energy in ecosystems moves from producers, which make their own energy, to organisms that get that energy by eating other organisms. The word that describes organisms who obtain energy by consuming others is consumers. Think of animals like rabbits that eat plants or wolves that eat other animals—their energy comes from what they eat, not from making it themselves.

Producers (autotrophs) are the ones that produce energy themselves, usually through photosynthesis. Decomposers break down dead material to obtain energy, which is also a way to get energy from other organisms, but that role is usually described separately as decomposers. So the broad term that fits organisms obtaining energy by consuming other living things is consumers.