An organism that makes its own food is a ...

• A. Producer
• B. Prey
• C. Predator
• D. Qualitative study

Answer: (A)

Autotrophs synthesize their own organic material from inorganic sources, forming the base of the food chain. An organism that makes its own food is a producer. Plants and many algae carry out photosynthesis, turning light energy into chemical energy stored as glucose. These producers supply energy and organic molecules for all other organisms in the ecosystem, which rely on consuming or decomposing them. The terms prey and predator describe feeding relationships in a food web rather than the ability to produce food; a prey is an organism eaten by a predator, and a predator is an organism that hunts other organisms. A qualitative study is a research approach, not a description of an organism. So the best label for an organism that makes its own food is producer.