Consumers
Definition
Consumers are organisms that obtain energy by consuming other organisms. They cannot produce their own food and rely on the energy stored in other living things.
Analogy
Think of consumers as people who go to a restaurant to eat. They depend on the chefs (producers) to prepare the food for them, just like consumers rely on other organisms for their energy.
Related terms
Heterotrophs: Heterotrophs are another term for consumers. They are organisms that cannot produce their own food and must consume other organisms for energy.
Primary Consumers: Primary consumers are herbivores that directly feed on producers (plants). They occupy the second trophic level in a food chain or web.
Secondary Consumers: Secondary consumers are carnivores that feed on primary consumers. They occupy the third trophic level in a food chain or web.
"Consumers" appears in:
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