Which term describes an organism that obtains energy from the foods it consumes; also called a consumer?

• A. Autotroph
• B. Heterotroph
• C. Producer
• D. Decomposer

Answer: (B)

The main idea is how organisms obtain energy. Organisms that get their energy by consuming other organisms are heterotrophs. They rely on eating or absorbing nutrients from other living or formerly living matter because they cannot convert inorganic material into energy the way autotrophs can. A consumer is simply another term for a heterotroph, since it describes organisms that feed on others to meet their energy needs.

Autotrophs, by contrast, produce their own energy-rich molecules—plants and certain bacteria capture light or chemical energy to synthesize organic food. The term producer typically refers to these autotrophs. Decomposers, while also relying on organic matter for energy, specialize in breaking down dead material and waste; they are heterotrophs but are usually described by their role as decomposers rather than simply as consumers.

So the best description for an organism that obtains energy from the foods it consumes is heterotroph.