Which term describes organisms that rely on feeding on other organisms for energy, rather than making their own food?

• A. Producers
• B. Decomposers
• C. Consumer
• D. Autotroph

Answer: (C)

In ecosystems, energy comes from two main feeding strategies: some organisms make their own food using sunlight or chemical energy, while others obtain energy by consuming other organisms. The term that describes organisms that rely on feeding on other organisms for energy is consumer. This includes animals that eat plants, other animals, or detritus, because they obtain their energy by consuming others rather than producing it themselves. Producers ( autotrophs ) do the opposite—they generate their own energy, so they’re not the right fit here. Decomposers break down dead matter for energy, which puts them in the broader category of consumers, but the general, most direct label for feeding on others is consumer.