Which statement describes the role of the organism indicated by the blue arrow in the food web? a. a primary producer that recycles organic molecules from sunlight b. a secondary consumer that obtains its energy from the consumption of animals c. a primary consumer that obtains its energy from the consumption of animals d. a secondary consumer that recycles organic molecules by breaking them down

B. A secondary consumer that obtains its energy from the consumption of animals.

The red-tailed hawk is a secondary consumer because it feeds itself on primary consumers (those that eat plants, herbivores). Secondary consumers, by definition, obtain their energy from eating other animals. Secondary consumers are also usually the ones that stand on the second and above rows of a food chain, being the plants at the bottom and the primary consumers just above the plants.

Increase in atmospheric oxygen by the photosynthetic organism to the biosphere evolved more complex forms of life. Many different plants, animals consuming plants, bacteria decomposing dead plants and animals evolved.These forms a food web in the biosphere. The remains of dead plants and animals release nutrients to the soil and ocean which are reabsorbed by the other growing plants.This food exchange  and energy exchange make the biosphere a self supporting and self regulating system .