What defines a secondary consumer in an ecosystem?

A secondary consumer is defined as an organism that eats primary consumers. This classification plays a vital role in the food web within an ecosystem. Primary consumers are typically herbivores that feed on plants (the primary producers). By consuming primary consumers, secondary consumers, which can be carnivores or omnivores, help to transfer energy up the food chain and regulate the populations of primary consumers. This interaction is crucial for maintaining ecological balance and ensuring the flow of energy through the various trophic levels.

In contrast, the other options describe different roles in the ecosystem. The choice indicating an organism that only eats plants describes a primary consumer, while the option about an organism that decomposes organic material refers to decomposers, and the last choice describes producers, which synthesize their own food through photosynthesis. Therefore, the defining characteristic of a secondary consumer is its position in the food chain as a predator of primary consumers.