IGCSE Biology glossary
Consumer
Biology editorial review is supported by the named review panel. Reviewer participation may vary by guide. Checked against Cambridge IGCSE Biology 0610 (2026–2028); last reviewed August 2026.
Definition
An organism that obtains energy by feeding on other organisms. Primary consumers eat producers, secondary consumers eat primary consumers, and tertiary consumers eat secondary consumers. Consumers are heterotrophs.
What to include in an exam answer
Know the levels: primary consumer (herbivore), secondary consumer (carnivore eating the herbivore), tertiary consumer (top predator). In food chain questions, identify the trophic level of each organism.
Example in context
In the food chain: grass -> rabbit -> fox -> eagle, identify the secondary consumer (1 mark): The fox is the secondary consumer.
Related syllabus topic
Organisms & their environment