Florida Biology EOC Practice Test

What term describes an organism that feeds on other organisms for food?

1. Biotic Factor

2. Consumer

3. Decomposer

4. Abiotic Factor

The correct answer is: Consumer

The term that describes an organism that feeds on other organisms for food is "consumer." Consumers are part of the food chain and are categorized based on their dietary habits; they can be herbivores, carnivores, or omnivores. This group of organisms plays a crucial role in ecosystems as they transfer energy from producers (like plants) to other trophic levels. In contrast, other terms like biotic factors refer to all living components within an ecosystem, including both producers and consumers. Decomposers are organisms that break down dead matter, returning nutrients to the soil, and abiotic factors encompass non-living elements of the environment, such as water, air, and temperature. Thus, "consumer" is the most accurate term for organisms that rely on other living organisms as their food source.