An Autotroph is an organism that can self feed. The word autotroph comes from the Greek term autos "self" and trophe "nourishing."
Autotrophs are the producers in a food web.
Autotrophs produce their energy from the sun in a chemical process called photosynthesis.
They take Carbon Dioxide plus water and sunlight and produce sugar and oxygen.
Autotrophs form the base of the energy pyramid.
A heterotroph comes from the Greek word meaning heteros = "another", "different" and trophe = "nutrition."
Heterotrophs receive their energy by eating other plants and animals.
They use a process called cellular respiration to generate energy.
C6H12O6 + 6 O2 --------> 6 CO2 + 6 H2O + Energy (ATP)
Sugar + oxygen to produce carbon dioxide + water and energy in the form of ATP
Some heterotrophs eat only eat plants and are called herbivores. Others eat only meat, ( carnivores) others eat plants and animals, ( omnivores). Some heterotrophs feed on dead organic remains of other organisms and are called decomposers.
If you hear the term producer, it means the same as an autotroph, and a consumer is a heterotroph.
http://www.moomoomath.com/
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