Which of the following is a producer?
A. Rabbit
B. Rat
C. Rattlesnake
D. Rice
The correct answer and explanation is:
Correct Answer: D. Rice
In an ecosystem, a producer is an organism that can produce its own food through the process of photosynthesis, using sunlight, carbon dioxide, and water. These organisms are also known as autotrophs. Most producers are green plants, algae, and some bacteria. They form the base of the food chain and provide energy for all other organisms known as consumers.
Rice is a plant, and like all green plants, it carries out photosynthesis using chlorophyll in its leaves. It converts light energy into chemical energy in the form of glucose, which it uses to grow and sustain itself. Because of this ability, rice is classified as a producer.
The other options—rabbit, rat, and rattlesnake—are all animals. These animals cannot make their own food and must rely on consuming plants or other animals for energy. Such organisms are classified as consumers. More specifically:
- Rabbit is a herbivore and a primary consumer because it eats plants.
- Rat is an omnivore and can act as both a primary and secondary consumer, depending on its diet.
- Rattlesnake is a carnivore and a secondary or tertiary consumer, feeding on other animals like rodents.
Understanding the role of producers is essential because they are the only organisms that can capture energy directly from the sun. All other organisms in the food web ultimately depend on producers for energy, either directly by eating them or indirectly by eating other consumers. Without producers like rice, the entire food chain would collapse due to the lack of a primary energy source.