Question

Energy in most ecosystems must flow through autotrophs because ______.
a.
only autotrophs can convert solar energy into chemical energy
b.
autotrophs are simpler organisms than heterotrophs
c.
heterotrophs only generate a small fraction of their energy from photosynthesis.
d.
all of the above

Answer 1

a. only autotrophs can convert solar energy into chemical energy

Autotrophs (plants, algae, and some bacteria) are the primary producers that capture solar (or chemical) energy and build organic molecules by photosynthesis/chemosynthesis; heterotrophs obtain energy by consuming those organic molecules.