Heterotrophs are organisms that consume other organisms in order to gain nutrients. Compare heterotrophs that eat autotrophs to heterotrophs that eat other heterotrophs in terms of how they obtain nutrients. Explain your answer in one to two sentences.(2 points)

Answer 1

Heterotrophs that eat autotrophs, known as primary consumers, obtain nutrients by directly consuming organisms that produce their own food through photosynthesis or chemosynthesis, hence they rely on the energy stored in autotrophs. In contrast, heterotrophs that eat other heterotrophs, known as secondary or tertiary consumers, obtain nutrients by consuming organisms that have already derived their energy from autotrophs, meaning they depend on the energy transfer through the food chain rather than direct nutrient acquisition from autotrophs.