Which of the following terms best describes eukaryotic organisms that absorb nutrients from their environment?

The term that best describes eukaryotic organisms that absorb nutrients from their environment is heterotrophs. Heterotrophs are organisms that cannot produce their own food and must obtain nutrients by consuming other organisms or organic material. This group includes animals, fungi, and many other organisms that feed on plants, other animals, or decomposed matter.

In contrast, autotrophs are organisms that can produce their own food using light or chemical energy, such as plants and some bacteria that perform photosynthesis or chemosynthesis. Decomposers, while also heterotrophic, specifically break down dead organic material and recycle nutrients back into the ecosystem, which is a narrower classification. Producers refer to organisms that create their own organic compounds from inorganic sources, mainly through photosynthesis. Thus, while decomposers and producers play crucial roles in ecosystems, the broader category that includes all eukaryotic organisms that absorb nutrients is best represented by the term heterotrophs.