Which term describes organisms that capture energy from sunlight and convert it into chemical energy?

• A. Autotrophs
• B. Consumers
• C. Decomposers
• D. Producers

Answer: (D)

In ecosystems, producers are the organisms that capture energy from sunlight and convert it into chemical energy stored in organic molecules. Through photosynthesis, plants, algae, and some bacteria use light energy to drive the synthesis of glucose and other compounds, providing the foundational energy source that fuels the rest of the ecosystem. This distinguishes them from consumers, which obtain energy by eating other organisms, and decomposers, which break down dead material. Autotrophs is a broader label for organisms that make their own food, including those using chemical energy sources, but in the context of capturing light and turning it into chemical energy, the term producers is the standard ecological description.