Autotrophs and Heterotrophs

Monday, May 30, 2022


When you eat a slice of pizza you are transferring energy from the sun. This may surprise you but the sun is the original source of energy for your body.So let’s take a look at the difference between an autotroph that gets energy directly from the sun and a heterotroph that gets energy indirectly from the sun from other sources, like a pizza.


All  plants and  other organisms that produce their own food in an ecosystem are called autotrophs or self feeders.

An autotroph is an organism that collects energy from sunlight or inorganic substances to produce food.


photosynthesis


The most common autotrophs are plants. Plants take sunlight along with water and carbon dioxide to produce glucose in a process called photosynthesis.The glucose is then used as energy. Bacteria and some protists also use photosynthesis to produce glucose which is then used to produce energy.


plants

Where there is no sunlight some organisms like giant tube worms use bacteria found inside them  and then oxidize hydrogen sulfide, add carbon dioxide and oxygen, to produce sugar, sulfur, and water.


tube worm

Autotrophs are also called producers.

Autotrophs are the foundation of all ecosystems. 


energy pyramid


A heterotroph is an organism that gets its energy requirement by consuming other organisms.

They are also called consumers.

A heterotroph that eats only plants is called a herbivore.

Heterotrophs that eat other heterotrophs are called carnivores. Examples would include lions and wolves.


carnivore


An organism that eats plants and animals are omnivores. 

Examples includes bears and humans.


Decomposers like bacteria and fungi are also classified as heterotrophs. They play a very important role in an ecosystem because they recycle nutrients back into the ecosystem.


decomposers

Two types of decomposers are detritivores which eat fragments of dead matter. Examples include worms, dung flies, sea cucumbers, and sea stars. 


Saprotrophs are organisms that feed by absorbing dead organic matter. Most saprotrophs are bacteria and fungi. 

Anytime you see something rotting like this log you know a saprotroph is hard at work.


Plant Kingdom



Types of Natural Selection


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