Which of the following best describes the difference between a primary consumer and a secondary consumer in an ecosystem?

• A. Primary consumers are always carnivores, while secondary consumers are always herbivores.
• B. A primary consumer eats producers, while a secondary consumer eats primary consumers.
• C. Both primary and secondary consumers eat only producers.
• D. A primary consumer eats secondary consumers, while a secondary consumer eats producers.

Answer: (B)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Step 1: Begin by understanding the concept of trophic levels in an ecosystem. Trophic levels represent the feeding positions in a food chain, starting with producers (organisms like plants and algae that create their own food through photosynthesis). Consumers are organisms that feed on other organisms.
2. Step 2: Define primary consumers. Primary consumers are herbivores that feed directly on producers. For example, a rabbit eating grass is a primary consumer because it consumes a producer.
3. Step 3: Define secondary consumers. Secondary consumers are organisms that feed on primary consumers. These are typically carnivores or omnivores. For example, a fox eating a rabbit is a secondary consumer because it consumes a primary consumer.
4. Step 4: Compare the feeding relationships. The key difference is that primary consumers eat producers, while secondary consumers eat primary consumers. This distinction is based on their position in the food chain.
5. Step 5: Eliminate incorrect options by applying the definitions. For example, primary consumers are not always carnivores, and secondary consumers are not always herbivores. Both primary and secondary consumers do not eat only producers. A primary consumer does not eat secondary consumers, and a secondary consumer does not eat producers. The correct answer is: 'A primary consumer eats producers, while a secondary consumer eats primary consumers.'