Ohio Assessment for Educators (OAE) Integrated Science (024) Practice Exam

What defines a carnivore in the ecological food chain?

1. Consumes only plants

2. Consumes only decomposing matter

3. Consumes only other animals

4. Consumes both plants and animals

The correct answer is: Consumes only other animals

A carnivore is defined as an organism that primarily consumes other animals as its main source of energy. This definition stems from the ecological role of carnivores in food chains and ecosystems, where they typically serve as predators, hunting and feeding on herbivores or other carnivores. This focus on consuming other animals allows carnivores to help maintain the balance of ecosystems by regulating the populations of their prey, which in turn influences the health of the habitats they occupy. The other options represent different feeding strategies that do not align with the strict definition of carnivores. For example, organisms that consume only plants are classified as herbivores, and those that primarily eat decomposing matter are considered detritivores or decomposers. The choice that describes the consumption of both plants and animals characterizes omnivores, which have a more varied diet that includes components from both trophic levels. Understanding these distinctions is essential in the study of ecology and the interactions between different organisms in an ecosystem.