Secondary consumers are organisms that eat primary consumers, which are typically herbivores that feed on plants. These secondary consumers can be carnivores, which eat other animals, or omnivores, which consume both plants and animals. They play a crucial role in the food chain by helping to control the population of primary consumers. In ecosystems, secondary consumers can include animals like foxes, snakes, and birds of prey. By feeding on primary consumers, they help maintain a balance in the ecosystem, ensuring that no single species becomes too dominant. This balance is essential for the health of the environment.