What are primary producers also known as?

Primary producers are also known as autotrophs because they have the unique ability to produce their own food through the process of photosynthesis or chemosynthesis. Autotrophs convert inorganic substances into organic matter, fundamentally supporting the food web by forming the base of energy flow in ecosystems. This process allows them to harness energy from sunlight or chemical sources, enabling them to create glucose and other organic molecules that serve as food for themselves and, indirectly, for consumers in the ecosystem.

In contrast, heterotrophs (which include herbivores, carnivores, and omnivores) cannot produce their own food and rely on consuming other organisms for energy. Herbivores specifically eat plants, while decomposers break down dead organic material to recycle nutrients back into the environment, neither of which fulfills the role of primary producers. Thus, recognizing primary producers as autotrophs is essential to understanding their critical role in ecological systems.