Amoebas are classified as consumers. They play a vital role in the ecosystem by feeding on bacteria, algae, and other microorganisms. Unlike producers, which create their own food through photosynthesis or chemosynthesis, amoebas rely on consuming other organisms to obtain their nutrients.
Amoebas are protozoans that use a process called phagocytosis to engulf their food. They extend their pseudopodia, which are temporary projections of their cell membrane, to surround and ingest their prey. Once the food is engulfed, it is enclosed in a food vacuole, where it is broken down and digested.
In summary, because amoebas obtain their energy and nutrients by consuming other organisms rather than producing their own, they are categorized as consumers in the food chain.