Q:
What is a consumer in biology?
A:
Quick Answer
Consumers are organisms that receive all their energy by consuming other types of organisms or organic matter. Generally consumers prey on other organisms because they do not have the ability to produce their own energy or to obtain energy through inorganic sources.
Continue Reading
Credit:
CSIRO
CC-BY 3.0
Full Answer
There are three levels of consumers in an ecological food chain: primary, secondary and tertiary consumers. Primary consumers are also known as herbivores and only eat plants and fruits. Secondary consumers eat primary consumers and are known as carnivores. Tertiary consumers eat secondary and primary consumers and are also known as carnivores. Consumers known as omnivores eat both plants and animals and can be either secondary or tertiary consumers.
Learn more about BiologySources:
Related Questions
-
Q:
What is biological science?
A: Biological science, or biology, is the study of living organisms, such as plants, animals and other living organisms. The subject of biology is divided int... Full Answer >Filed Under: -
Q:
What is a community in biology?
A: In biology, a community is a group or collection of organisms that live together in the same location and interact with each other. Communities can be defi... Full Answer >Filed Under: -
Q:
What is a classification key and how is it used?
A: In biology, a classification key is a means of categorizing living organisms by identifying and sorting them according to common characteristics. Also refe... Full Answer >Filed Under: -
Q:
What is dynamic equilibrium biology?
A: In biology, dynamic equilibrium refers to a steady state of any biological element or system (such as a single cell, or an organ, for example) that has a h... Full Answer >Filed Under:
