Heterotrophs and Autotrophs

Describe heterotrophs

They are consumers / “other-feeders”. they are unable to make their own food, so they obtain organic molecules from other organisms

What are decomposers?

heterotrophs that consume the remains of organisms and organic litter

What are examples of decomposers?

most fungi, many types of prokaryotes

Describe autotrophs

They are producers / “self-feeders”. they make their own food (organic molecules) from inorganic sources (CO2, H2O, minerals)

What are photoautotrophic organisms?

organisms that use solar energy to synthesize organic molecules from CO2 and H2O

What are examples of photoautotrophic organisms?

vascular plants, green algae, certain unicellular eukaryotes (protists), some prokaryotes

What are fossil fuels?

stores of the sun’s energy from the past formed from the remains of organisms that died hundreds of millions of years ago

What kind of resource are fossil fuels?

non-renewable resource

What are biofuels?

fuels formed from crops (corn, soybean, canola) and can supplement or replace fossil fuels

What are examples of biofuels?

bioethanol and biodiesel