Answer:a) The aphid is both a predator and a prey in the food chain given. As a predator, it feeds on plants, and as a prey, it is eaten by ladybirds.
b) To get rid of aphids without using insecticides or killing the aphids themselves, a gardener can encourage the presence of ladybirds in their garden. Ladybirds are natural predators of aphids and can help to control their population without the use of harmful chemicals. The gardener can do this by planting a diverse range of flowering plants that attract ladybirds, providing shelter for them in the garden, and avoiding the use of pesticides that can harm ladybirds and other beneficial insects. This will help to create a balanced ecosystem in the garden where aphids can be controlled naturally by their predators.
Step-by-step explanation: