What is consumer in science?

In science, a consumer refers to an organism that obtains its energy and nutrients by feeding on other organisms, as opposed to producing its own food. Consumers are typically categorized into different levels in an ecosystem: primary consumers (herbivores) eat producers (plants), secondary consumers (carnivores) eat primary consumers, and tertiary consumers may eat secondary consumers. This trophic structure plays a crucial role in ecological balance and energy transfer within food chains.