Consumers obtain energy by:

The correct answer is that consumers obtain energy by feeding on other organisms or their remains. Consumers are a vital part of the ecosystem and rely on other living organisms for their energy and nutritional needs. This includes animals that consume plants (herbivores), animals that consume other animals (carnivores), and omnivores that eat both plants and animals.

This feeding process allows consumers to break down the organic matter found in other organisms, transforming it into energy that they can use for growth, reproduction, and other life processes. By feeding on either living organisms or their remains, consumers play a crucial role in the food web, connecting different trophic levels and helping to regulate populations within ecosystems.

In contrast, the other options involve processes that are not characteristic of consumers. Photosynthesis is a process used by producers, like plants and algae, to convert light energy into chemical energy. Absorbing nutrients from the soil is a function of plants and fungi, which are also primary producers in the ecosystem. Creating their own food is again a trait associated with producers, not consumers. Therefore, feeding on other organisms or their remains distinctly defines the energy acquisition method of consumers.