Match Column I with Column II:
| Column I | Column II |
| A. Autotroph | 1. An organism that eats plants. |
| B. Carnivore | 2. An organism that eats meat. |
| C. Herbivore | 3. An organism that makes its food from light or chemical energy without eating. |
| D. Decomposer | 4. An organism that meets its energy and nutrient needs by degrading dead organic matter. |
Choose the correct answer from the options given below:
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 1
The correct answer is Option (1) → A-3, B-2, C-1, D-4
(A) Autotroph — this matches (3) An organism that makes its food from light or chemical energy without eating. Plants and photosynthetic bacteria are autotrophs. They fix the sun’s energy to make food from simple inorganic materials, and they are the producers of an ecosystem.
(B) Carnivore — this matches (2) An organism that eats meat. Carnivores feed on other animals, for example on the herbivores. They are secondary or higher consumers.
(C) Herbivore — this matches (1) An organism that eats plants. Herbivores feed on the producers directly, so they are the primary consumers.
(D) Decomposer — this matches (4) An organism that meets its energy and nutrient needs by degrading dead organic matter. Decomposers, mainly fungi and bacteria, are heterotrophs. They break down dead organic matter (detritus) and absorb the simple materials released. They are also called saprotrophs.
NCERT Extract:
Energy Flow – “… We know that plants and photosynthetic bacteria (autotrophs), fix Sun’s radiant energy to make food from simple inorganic materials.”
Energy Flow – “… Obviously the primary consumers will be herbivores. Some common herbivores are insects, birds and mammals in terrestrial ecosystem and molluscs in aquatic ecosystem. The consumers that feed on these herbivores are carnivores, or more correctly primary carnivores (though secondary consumers). … The detritus food chain (DFC) begins with dead organic matter. It is made up of decomposers which are heterotrophic organisms, mainly fungi and bacteria. They meet their energy and nutrient requirements by degrading dead organic matter or detritus. These are also known as saprotrophs (sapro: to decompose).”