Which term describes an organism that consumes organic matter for energy?

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Multiple Choice

Which term describes an organism that consumes organic matter for energy?

Explanation:
The main idea is how organisms get energy and carbon. An organism that consumes pre-formed organic matter to obtain energy is called a heterotroph. Heterotrophs can’t fix carbon themselves; they rely on organic compounds produced by others and break those down to release energy through cellular respiration. Examples include animals, fungi, and many bacteria. In contrast, the other terms don’t describe how an organism meets its energy needs: a food web is a network of feeding relationships in an ecosystem, the hadal zone is a deep ocean depth, and isotonic refers to a solution with equal solute concentration—none of these describe energy acquisition from organic matter.

The main idea is how organisms get energy and carbon. An organism that consumes pre-formed organic matter to obtain energy is called a heterotroph. Heterotrophs can’t fix carbon themselves; they rely on organic compounds produced by others and break those down to release energy through cellular respiration. Examples include animals, fungi, and many bacteria.

In contrast, the other terms don’t describe how an organism meets its energy needs: a food web is a network of feeding relationships in an ecosystem, the hadal zone is a deep ocean depth, and isotonic refers to a solution with equal solute concentration—none of these describe energy acquisition from organic matter.

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