Consumers are ______ (a) Heterotrophs (b) Saprotrophs (c) Autotrophs (d) None of this
Answers
A) Heterotrophs is the right answer.
" Heterotrophs are termed as consumers since they do not have the ability to prepare their own food but depend on other living organisms for food.
Heterotrophs are classified as: herbivores, carnivores, and omnivores.
Herbivores, the primary consumers, (like cow, goat) eat plants. Herbivores get their nutrients in the form of glucose, cellulose, starch stored in plants.
Frugivores: Birds, monkeys that depend on fruits.
Nectarivores: Hummingbird, bees, butterflies that depend on flower nectars.
Carnivores (like birds, snake, and frogs) eat other organisms.
Secondary consumers: Snake, frogs, birds act as secondary consumers in the food chain when they eat herbivores.
Tertiary consumers: Predators like lion, tiger act as tertiary consumers when they predate and eat other carnivores.
Scavengers: Vultures, cockroaches consume dead animals and hence are termed scavengers.
Omnivores (humans) can be herbivores and carnivores at the same time"