What is the role of a consumer in the flow of energy through a food chain?

• A. Consumers convert solar energy into chemical energy.
• B. Consumers produce energy through photosynthesis.
• C. Consumers transfer energy by eating other organisms.
• D. Consumers decompose organic matter to release nutrients.

Answer: (C)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand the concept of a food chain: A food chain is a sequence of organisms where each organism is eaten by the next one in the chain. It represents the flow of energy and nutrients from one organism to another.
2. Identify the role of producers: Producers, such as plants, convert solar energy into chemical energy through photosynthesis. They are the starting point of the food chain.
3. Define the role of consumers: Consumers are organisms that obtain energy by eating other organisms. They do not produce energy through photosynthesis; instead, they rely on consuming producers or other consumers.
4. Differentiate between types of consumers: Primary consumers eat producers, secondary consumers eat primary consumers, and tertiary consumers eat secondary consumers. Each level transfers energy from one organism to another.
5. Clarify the role of decomposers: Decomposers break down dead organic matter, releasing nutrients back into the ecosystem, but they are not considered consumers in the context of energy transfer in a food chain.