What term describes an organism that cannot make its own food and must consume other organisms?

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

Answer: (A)

At the heart of this question is how organisms obtain their energy. An organism that cannot make its own food must rely on consuming other organisms or their organic matter to meet its energy and carbon needs. That describes a heterotroph.

Autotrophs, on the other hand, synthesize their own food using light (photosynthesis) or chemical energy (chemosynthesis), so they don’t fit the criteria of needing to eat or absorb ready-made organic material. Decomposers are a subset of heterotrophs that break down dead matter to release energy, but the general term for organisms that must rely on others for food is heterotroph. Producers are typically autotrophs—the organisms that form the base of the food web by making organic matter for others to use.