What are consumers in ecological terms?

Consumers in ecological terms are defined as heterotrophs that obtain their energy by feeding on other living organisms through the process of ingestion. This classification includes a variety of organisms such as herbivores, carnivores, and omnivores, which derive their nourishment by consuming plants, animals, or both.

The term "heterotroph" specifically refers to organisms that cannot synthesize their own food and therefore rely on others for their energy needs. This distinguishes them from producers, which can make their own food through photosynthesis or chemosynthesis, and decomposers, which play a different ecological role by breaking down dead organic material. The consumption process that consumers engage in is fundamental to energy transfer within food webs and ecosystems, making them a crucial component of ecological dynamics.