In a simple food chain, what are first-order consumers?

• A. Producers
• B. Herbivores
• C. Carnivores
• D. Decomposers

Answer: (B)

In a simple food chain, energy moves from producers to the organisms that eat them. Producers, like plants, capture sunlight and convert it into chemical energy. The first consumers in this chain are the herbivores that feed directly on those plants—they’re the primary consumers. They’re the ones obtaining energy by eating producers, placing them one step above the base of the chain. Carnivores eat other animals and sit higher in the chain, while decomposers break down dead matter and recycle nutrients. So the herbivores are the first-order consumers.