Which of the following best describes the role that herbivores play in an ecosystem?
A.
Herbivores break down nutrients contained in dead organisms and release these nutrients back into the ecosystem so that producers can use them to create energy.
B.
Herbivores produce their own energy by obtaining solar energy from the Sun and make this energy accessible to consumers by incorporating it into their own living tissue.
C.
Herbivores consume carnivores and omnivores to obtain energy and make this energy accessible to producers by incorporating it into their own living tissue.
D.
Herbivores consume living plant tissue to obtain energy and make this energy accessible to higher consumers by incorporating it into their own living tissue.
