biology vocab words

secondary consumer

Primary consumers are animals that eat primary producers; they are also called herbivores (plant-eaters). Secondary consumers eat primary consumers. They are carnivores (meat-eaters) and omnivores (animals that eat both animals and plants).

carnivore

A carnivore, meaning "meat eater", is an organism that derives its energy and nutrient requirements from a diet consisting mainly or exclusively of animal tissue, whether through predation or scavenging.

producer

An autotrophic organism capable of producing complex organic compounds from simple inorganic molecules through the process of photosynthesis or through chemosynthesis

tertiary consumer

a carnivore at the topmost level in a food chain that feeds on other carnivores; an animal that feeds only on secondary consumers.

food chain

a hierarchical series of organisms each dependent on the next as a source of food.

food web

a system of interlocking and interdependent food chains.

omnivore

an animal or person that eats food of both plant and animal origin.

herbivore

an animal that feeds on plants.

primary consumer

herbivores, feeding on plants. Secondary consumers, on the other hand, are carnivores, and prey on other animals. Omnivores, who feed on both plants and animals, can also be considered a secondary consumer.