[Campbell Biology P.74] The "Energy and Matter Theme" highlights that "Energy flows through... | Practice Question

The "Energy and Matter Theme" highlights that "Energy flows through an ecosystem." Which of the following best describes how a consumer specifically, a primary consumer, such as a herbivore contributes to this energy flow?

  • A: They convert energy from sunlight into chemical energy.
  • B: They obtain chemical energy from other organisms and use it to perform work, with some energy eventually lost as heat.
  • C: They are primarily responsible for cycling chemicals between organisms and the environment.
  • D: They produce their own energy by breaking down inorganic matter.

Explanation

The text states: "Producers convert energy from sunlight to chemical energy, some of which is used by them and by consumers to do work, and is eventually lost from the ecosystem as heat." A primary consumer is a type of consumer that obtains chemical energy by eating producers, and then uses this energy for its own metabolic activities "to do work" , with some inevitably being lost as heat, aligning perfectly with option B.