In the grazing food chain, what is the term used to describe the primary consumers that feed on producers?
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 1
The correct answer is Option (1) → Herbivores
Animals depend on plants, directly or indirectly, for food, so they are called consumers. Those that feed on the producers (the plants) are the primary consumers, and they are the herbivores. Animals that eat these herbivores are primary carnivores (secondary consumers), and so on up the food chain. Examples of herbivores are insects, birds and mammals on land and molluscs in water.
NCERT Extract:
Energy Flow – “… All animals depend on plants (directly or indirectly) for their food needs. They are hence called consumers and also heterotrophs. If they feed on the producers, the plants, they are called primary consumers, and if the animals eat other animals which in turn eat the plants (or their produce) they are called secondary consumers. Likewise, you could have tertiary consumers too. Obviously the primary consumers will be herbivores. Some common herbivores are insects, birds and mammals in terrestrial ecosystem and molluscs in aquatic ecosystem.”