# Consumer

An organism that gets energy by eating other organisms. Types include primary, secondary and tertiary consumers.

Biology (school) · Part 07: Ecosystems and food chains · Card 6 of 11 · Last updated 2026-10-19

## Analogy

A customer in the food chain.

## In practice

A rabbit eats grass, so it is a primary consumer. A fox eats the rabbit, so it is a secondary consumer.

## Practice

### Flashcards

- **What is an apex predator?** A consumer at the top of a food chain with no natural predators.

### Interview questions

**Explain why food chains rarely have more than five trophic levels.**

- Only about 10 percent of biomass passes to the next level
- Energy is lost in respiration, movement and heat
- Energy is lost in waste and uneaten parts
- Not enough is left to support more levels

## Questions people ask

### What are herbivores, carnivores and omnivores?

Herbivores eat only plants, like cows. Carnivores eat only other animals, like lions. Omnivores eat both, like humans and bears. In a food chain, herbivores are primary consumers, and carnivores that eat them are secondary consumers. A top carnivore with no predators is an apex predator.

### What does an arrow in a food chain mean?

The arrow shows the direction in which energy and biomass flow, so it points from the food to the animal that eats it. In grass to rabbit to fox, the arrow from grass to rabbit means the rabbit eats the grass. It does not mean who is stronger.

## Related concepts

- [Producer](https://studyvisually.com/learn/science/biology-school/biology-school-part-7/biology-school-part-7-concept-5)
- [Biomass](https://studyvisually.com/learn/science/biology-school/biology-school-part-7/biology-school-part-7-concept-8)
- [Food web](https://studyvisually.com/learn/science/biology-school/biology-school-part-7/biology-school-part-7-concept-7)

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