In a food chain herbivores are

Options

A. Primary consumers
B. Decomposers
C. Primary producers
D. Secondary consumers

Answer

**Step-by-Step Solution:**

1. **Understanding the Food Chain**: A food chain illustrates the flow of energy and nutrients from one organism to another. It typically starts with producers, followed by various levels of consumers.

2. **Identifying Producers**: The first level of the food chain consists of producers, which are organisms that can create their own food through processes like photosynthesis. In most ecosystems, plants are the primary producers.

3. **Defining Herbivores**: Herbivores are animals that primarily consume plants. They do not produce their own food and rely on producers for energy.

4. **Position of Herbivores in the Food Chain**: In the food chain, herbivores occupy the second level, which is known as the primary consumer level. They directly consume the producers (plants).

5. **Distinguishing Between Consumer Types**:
- Primary consumers are herbivores that eat producers.
- Secondary consumers are carnivores or omnivores that eat primary consumers.
- Tertiary consumers eat secondary consumers.
- Decomposers break down dead organisms and recycle nutrients but are not classified as consumers.

6. **Conclusion**: Based on the classification of organisms in a food chain, herbivores are categorized as primary consumers.

7. **Final Answer**: Therefore, the correct answer to the question "In a food chain, herbivores are" is **primary consumers**.

---