Autotrophs are organisms that can produce their own food from the substances bachelor in their environs using light (photosynthesis) or chemical energy (chemosynthesis). Heterotrophs cannot synthesize their ain food and rely on other organisms — both plants and animals — for diet. Technically, the definition is that autotrophs obtain carbon from inorganic sources like carbon dioxide (CO2) while heterotrophs get their reduced carbon from other organisms. Autotrophs are usually plants; they are also called "cocky feeders" or "main producers".

Comparison nautical chart

Autotroph versus Heterotroph comparing chart
Autotroph Heterotroph
Produce own food Yes No
Food concatenation level Primary Secondary and tertiary
Types Photoautotroph, Chemoautotroph Photoheterotroph, Chemoheterotroph
Examples Plants, algae, and some bacteria Herbivores, omnivores, and carnivores
Definition An organism that is able to form nutritional organic substances from simple inorganic substances such as carbon dioxide. Heterotrophs cannot produce organic compounds from inorganic sources and therefore rely on consuming other organisms in the food chain.
What or How they eat ? Produce their ain nutrient for free energy. They swallow other organisms to get proteins and free energy.

Monotropastrum humile, a myco-heterotroph dependent on fungi throughout its lifetime

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Monotropastrum humile, a myco-heterotroph dependent on fungi throughout its lifetime

Free energy Production

Autotrophs produce their ain energy by one of the post-obit two methods:

  • Photosynthesis - Photoautotrophs use energy from sun to convert h2o from the soil and carbon dioxide from the air into glucose. Glucose provides energy to plants and is used to make cellulose which is used to build cell walls. East.g. Plants, algae, phytoplankton and some leaner. Carnivorous plants like pitcher found use photosynthesis for free energy production but depend on other organisms for other nutrients like nitrogen, potassium and phosphorous. Hence, these plants are basically autotrophs.
  • Chemosynthesis - Chemoautotrophs employ energy from chemical reactions to make nutrient. The chemical reactions are commonly between hydrogen sulfide/methane with oxygen. Carbon dioxide is the main source of carbon for Chemoautotrophs. E.thousand. Bacteria found inside agile volcano, hydrothermal vents in sea flooring, hot h2o springs.

Heterotrophs survive past feeding on organic affair produced by or available in other organisms. There are two types of heterotrophs:

  • Photoheterotroph – These heterotrophs employ light for free energy but cannot utilize carbon dioxide as their carbon source. They become their carbon from compounds such as carbohydrates, fatty acids and booze. E.1000. purple not-sulfur bacteria, greenish-non sulfur bacteria and heliobacteria.
  • Chemoheterotroph – Heterotrophs that become their free energy by oxidation of preformed organic compounds, i.e. past eating other organisms either expressionless or live. E.g. animals, fungi, bacteria and almost all pathogens.
Type of organism Energy source Carbon source
Photoautotroph Light Carbon dioxide
Chemoautotroph Chemicals Carbon dioxide
Photoheterotroph Low-cal Carbon from other organisms
Chemoheterotroph Other organisms Other organisms

A flowchart explaining the various types of trophs

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A flowchart explaining the various types of trophs

Nutrient Chain

Autotrophs do non depend on other organism for their food. They are the primary producer and are placed beginning in the food concatenation. Heterotrophs that depend on autotrophs and other heterotrophs for their energy level are placed side by side on the food concatenation.

Herbivores that feed on autotrophs are placed in the second trophic level. Carnivores that eat meat and omnivores that eat all types of organisms are placed side by side in the trophic level.

Food cycle between autotrophs and heterotrophs

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Food cycle betwixt autotrophs and heterotrophs

References

  • Wikipedia: Autotroph
  • Wikipedia: Chemoheterotroph
  • Wikipedia: Heterotroph
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"Autotroph vs Heterotroph." Diffen.com. Diffen LLC, n.d. Web. 4 Nov 2022. < >