Which term refers to a carnivore that eats herbivores?

• A. Secondary consumer
• B. Producer
• C. Decomposer
• D. Limiting factor

Answer: (A)

Think about energy flow in ecosystems and the levels at which organisms feed. Producers make energy from sunlight, like plants. Herbivores are primary consumers because they eat those producers. Carnivores that eat herbivores sit one step higher and are called secondary consumers. They obtain energy by consuming primary consumers rather than plants or other carnivores. An example is a fox that eats a rabbit—the fox is a secondary consumer because it eats a herbivore. The other terms don’t fit this role: producers are the energy makers, decomposers break down dead material, and a limiting factor is something that restricts population growth rather than describing an animal’s trophic level.