What are primary producers also referred to as?

Primary producers are organisms that create their own food through processes like photosynthesis or chemosynthesis, which converts light or chemical energy into organic matter. This ability to produce their own energy makes them autotrophs. They form the base of the food chain and provide energy for all other organisms, which rely on them either directly or indirectly for nutrition.

Omnivores, detritivores, and decomposers play different roles in the ecosystem. Omnivores consume both plants and animals, detritivores break down dead organic material and recycle nutrients back into the ecosystem, and decomposers specifically break down organic matter, returning essential nutrients to the soil. While these groups are crucial for nutrient cycling and energy flow within ecosystems, they do not possess the same capacity for energy production as primary producers do. Thus, the term "autotrophs" accurately describes primary producers as the main contributors to energy availability in ecosystems.