Which term describes organisms that obtain energy by consuming other organisms?

• A. Photoautotrophs
• B. Heterotrophs
• C. Chemoautotrophs
• D. Ecosystem

Answer: (B)

The main idea here is how organisms get their energy. Organisms that obtain energy by consuming other organisms rely on preformed organic molecules from their prey or food. They break down these molecules to release energy through processes like cellular respiration. This category includes animals, many fungi, and some bacteria. They can’t make their own organic matter from inorganic sources using light or chemical reactions.

In contrast, photoautotrophs capture light energy to synthesize organic compounds themselves, while chemoautotrophs use energy from inorganic chemical reactions to build organic molecules. An ecosystem, meanwhile, is the whole system of living and nonliving components, not a type of organism.