In a food web, which of the following organisms is most likely to be classified as a primary consumer?

• A. A grass plant producing its own food via photosynthesis
• B. A hawk that eats snakes
• C. A grasshopper that eats grass
• D. A mushroom decomposing dead leaves

Answer: (C)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand the concept of trophic levels in a food web: Producers (autotrophs) are at the base, followed by primary consumers (herbivores), secondary consumers (carnivores that eat herbivores), and decomposers (organisms that break down dead material).
2. Identify the role of each organism in the food web: A grass plant is a producer because it makes its own food via photosynthesis. A hawk is a secondary or tertiary consumer because it eats other animals. A mushroom is a decomposer because it breaks down organic matter.
3. Recognize that primary consumers are organisms that feed directly on producers (plants or algae). These are typically herbivores.
4. Analyze the given options: A grasshopper that eats grass fits the definition of a primary consumer because it directly consumes a producer (grass).
5. Conclude that the grasshopper is the correct answer, as it is the organism most likely to be classified as a primary consumer in this food web.