Autotrophs ___. ?
A can live without heterotrophs
B undergo photosynthesis
C all of these
D are producers
The correct answer and explanation is:
The correct answer is D: are producers.
Explanation:
Producers are organisms that make their own food through the process of photosynthesis. They use sunlight, carbon dioxide, and water to produce glucose and oxygen. These organisms form the base of the food chain and support all other living beings by providing energy and organic compounds.
Let’s look at the other options to understand why they are incorrect:
- A: can live without heterotrophs?
This statement is generally true for producers. Producers do not rely on heterotrophs (organisms that consume other organisms for energy) to survive because they produce their own food. However, the question seems to ask if the group described by the answer choices (which are producers) can live without heterotrophs. While producers can survive without heterotrophs in a strictly nutritional sense, heterotrophs play important roles in ecosystems such as recycling nutrients. So this answer is not the best choice here. - B: undergo photosynthesis?
While producers do undergo photosynthesis, this option alone is incomplete because it does not describe the organism’s ecological role as producers. Photosynthesis is a process, and the organisms that perform it are called producers. - C: all of these?
Since not all the options are correct or complete, this is not the right choice. - D: are producers
This is the most accurate answer because it correctly identifies the role of organisms that carry out photosynthesis and form the base of ecosystems by producing their own food.
In summary, producers are crucial to ecosystems as they convert sunlight into chemical energy, supporting heterotrophs (consumers). They are essential for the survival of nearly all life on Earth since heterotrophs depend on them directly or indirectly for energy.