Question

Explain what distinguishes primary and secondary consumers.

Answer 1

Primary consumers are organisms that consume producers or autotrophs, which are typically plants that produce their own food through photosynthesis. This means that primary consumers are herbivores and they directly rely on the energy transferred from the sun through photosynthesis. In contrast, secondary consumers are organisms that consume other consumers. These organisms are typically carnivores and they obtain their energy by eating primary consumers or other secondary consumers. In general, primary consumers are at the base of the food chain and they are the first link in the transfer of energy in ecosystems, while secondary consumers consume and process the energy obtained from primary consumers.