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Home > Articles > Differentiate Between Autotrophs and Heterotrophs: Definitions, Nutrition, Equations, Affect on Ecosystem, and Sample Questions
Differentiate Between Autotrophs and Heterotrophs: Definitions, Nutrition, Equations, Affect on Ecosystem, and Sample Questions
Nikita Parmar
Updated on 28th August, 2023 , 6 min read
Differentiate Between Autotrophs and Heterotrophs Overview
All living species on this planet rely only on food for energy. Many creatures, including humans, live on the planet Earth. It begs the question of what these creatures consume. Years of research have resulted in the classification of organisms based on where they obtain their sustenance. As a result, they are classified as heterotrophs or autotrophs. In the food chain, the former is a secondary or tertiary consumer. For example, plants, algae, and so forth. The former, on the other hand, is the principal producer in the food chain. Animals such as a dog, horses, or lions, for example.
What is Nutrition?
It is the process of taking in food and transforming it into energy and other essential components for survival. Nutrition may also be defined as the process through which an animal or plant consumes and uses dietary items. Nutrients, as we all know, offer nutrition. Proteins, carbs, fat, vitamins, minerals, fiber, and water are examples of nutrients. It is also vital to have the proper nutritional balance in the diet to reduce the chance of acquiring certain health disorders.
Difference Between Heterotrophs and Autotrophs Definitions
What are Autotrophs?
Autotrophs are creatures that feed in an autotrophic way. These are the creatures that can make their own sustenance out of basic ingredients such as carbon dioxide and water. Autotrophs include all green plants. These green plants have chlorophyll pigment in their plant cells, which aids in the manufacture of their own sustenance by absorbing solar energy. All autotrophs are producers and are found at the top of the food chain. Carbohydrates, proteins, and lipids can be utilized as energy sources by both autotrophs and heterotrophs during respiration, recycling carbon dioxide for use in photosynthesis.
What are Hetretrophs?
The term heterotroph comes from the Greek language. Trophe signifies feeding, whereas hetero means difference. As a result, creatures that gain energy by digesting plants, animals, and decaying debris are called heterotrophs. Heterotrophs are creatures that cannot make their own food and must rely on producers such as green plants and other animals. This is referred to as the heterotrophic method of nourishment. Autotrophs give a constant supply of fresh organic molecules to heterotrophs. Heterotrophs are consumers in the food chain and are classified as secondary or tertiary. The finest examples of heterotrophs include all non-green plants and animals, including humans.
Differentiate Between Autotrophs and Heterotrophs Equations
Autotrophs Equation
The following process depicts how light energy is converted into chemical energy-
| Carbon Dioxide + Water → Sugar + Oxygen |
Heterotrophs Equations
The cellular respiration equation is-
Sugar + Oxygen → Carbon Dioxide + Water + ATP |
Furthermore, it is the mechanism by which energy is produced, with ATP (Adenosine triphosphate) being the primary energy source used by heterotrophs.
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How do Heterotrophs and Autotrophs Affect the Ecosystem?
Autotrophs are key nutrient cyclers in the ecosystem because they break down substances into simpler molecules that are released into the environment for usage. In the carbon cycle, for example, oxygen is released when carbon dioxide molecules are used.
Heterotrophs serve a crucial part in the transfer of energy from one level to another and in the maintenance of energy cycles. Plants and algae occupy the first trophic level and are primary producers in the food chain, whereas animals or organisms that rely on plants and other animals for sustenance occupy the second and third trophic levels and are also known as primary consumers, secondary consumers, or tertiary consumers.
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Differentiate Between Autotrophs and Heterotrophs
The following table gives details about the difference between autotrophs and heterotrophs-
Parameter | Autotrophs | Heterotrophs |
Definitions | They are creatures that can produce their own nourishment with the aid of sunshine, air, and water. | They are creatures that cannot make their own food and must rely on others to do it. |
Examples | Green plants, algae, and some bacteria | Animals such as elephants, cats, horses, cat, cows, dogs, etc. |
Movement | It is impossible to go from one location to another. | They can migrate from one location to another in search of food. |
Chloroplast | Chloroplasts are found in green vegetation. | There is no chloroplast. |
Types | Chemoautotrophs and photoautotrophs | Photoheterotrophic and chemoheterotrophic organisms. |
Role | Producers | Consumers |
Energy Source | It is derived from inorganic sources once light energy is converted into chemical energy. | It can be derived directly or indirectly from other species. |
Energy Storage | Chemical energy and sunlight may be stored. | Not able to store energy. |
Dependency | Independent | They rely on nourishment from other organisms. |
Food Chain Level | Primary producer | Secondary or tertiary level |
Key Difference Between Heterotrophs and Autotrophs
- The two nutritional categories of organisms are autotrophs and heterotrophs.
- Autotrophs are creatures capable of producing their own sustenance. Heterotrophs, on the other hand, rely on autotrophs and other species for sustenance.
- Green plants and algae have chlorophyll, which allows them to create food using sunshine.
- Herbivores eat plants, carnivores eat other animals, omnivores eat both plants and animals, and decomposers eat dead and decaying waste are all heterotrophs.
- Autotrophs are primary producers and are at the top of the food chain.
- Consumers are classified as heterotrophs and are found at the secondary and tertiary levels.
- Both help to keep the energy flowing throughout the environment.
- We may deduce from the preceding explanation that autotrophs and heterotrophs, as well as the forms of feeding, play equal roles in maintaining the ecosystem's food chain.
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Points to Remember
- Autotrophs and Heterotrophs are two groups of living creatures defined according to their ability to manufacture food.
- Autotrophs are creatures that can produce their own nourishment using inorganic elements such as carbon dioxide, sunshine, and water.
- Heterotrophs are creatures that rely on other animals or plants for sustenance since they are unable to prepare their own.
- Most Autotrophs prepare their food using photosynthesis, but some prepare through chemosynthesis.
- Autotrophs are key nutrient cyclers in the ecosystem because they break down complex substances into simpler molecules that are then released into the environment for usage.
- Heterotrophs play a crucial part in the transfer of energy from one level to the next and in the maintenance of energy cycles.
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Sample Questions Related to the Differentiate Between Autotrophs and Heterotrophs
Sample Question 1- How many different types of organisms are categorized based on their nutritional needs?
Organisms are divided into two categories based on their nutritional requirements: Heterotrophs and Autotrophs.
Sample Question 2- What are some Autotroph examples?
Land plants (such as Bryophytes, Ferns, Gymnosperms, Grass, Dicots, and so on) are examples of autotrophs, as do microbes ( such as cyanobacteria, planktons, etc.). Protists and algae are two types of algae ( Diatoms, Dinoflagellates, Chlorophytes, Charophytes Etc.)
Sample Question 3- What are some instances of Heterotrophs?
Animals, humans, fungi, certain bacteria, and all primary, secondary, and tertiary consumers are all heterotrophs, with the exception of plants and those with chloroplasts.
Sample Question 4- Is it true that all people are heterotrophs?
Yes, we all acquire our nourishment from plants or other species that cannot make food on their own.
Sample Question 5- What advantage does a terrestrial creature have over an aquatic organism in terms of acquiring oxygen for respiration?
The oxygen dissolved in the surrounding water is used by aquatic creatures. Because air dissolved in water has a relatively low percentage of oxygen, aquatic creatures breathe at a considerably quicker rate. Terrestrial species use respiratory organs to get oxygen from the oxygen-rich environment. As a result, they breathe at a far slower rate than aquatic creatures.
Sample Question 6- Can heterotrophs exist on many trophic levels?
Heterotrophs can be main consumers, often known as herbivores, or secondary or tertiary consumers.
Sample Question 7- Why can't heterotrophs do photosynthesis?
Photosynthesis needs chlorophyll, a key pigment present solely in autotrophs that is missing in heterotrophs.
Sample Question 8- Can autotrophs be eliminated from the food chain?
No, every creature, whether autotrophs or heterotrophs, is useful in its position and helps to sustain energy flow in the ecosystem, which is why they are interdependent.
Sample Question 9- What is the relationship between autotrophs and heterotrophs?
Autotrophs absorb minerals from the soil to prepare their food, which is recycled by the activity of Heterotrophs, who aid in the recycling of nutrients.
Sample Question 10- How are creatures classified as heterotrophs classified?
Animals are heterotrophs, and they are classified based on the sort of food they ingest. These animals are classified as herbivores, carnivores, and omnivores.
Sample Question 11- Which category should we place decomposers in?
Decomposers are creatures that feed on dead and decaying substances, hence they are classified as Heterotrophs.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Which creatures are autotrophs as well as heterotrophs?
Ans. Cyanobacteria are autotrophic and heterotrophic organisms. They feed on photoautotrophic plants. Archaea is another creature that is both an autotroph and a heterotroph.
What are the many kinds of autotrophs?
Ans. Photoautotrophs and chemoautotrophs are two forms of autotrophs. The former are creatures that prepare their own nourishment using sunlight. The latter, on the other hand, use inorganic energy sources to derive energy from carbon dioxide.
Give some examples of Heterotrophs.
Ans. Heterotrophs are animals such as herbivores, omnivores, and carnivores.
Describe one distinction between heterotrophs and autotrophs.
Ans. According to the system, heterotrophs are at the secondary or tertiary level. Autotrophs, on the other hand, are the principal producers.
Give some instances of Autotrophs.
Ans. Autotrophs are all green plants that synthesize their own nourishment via the biological process known as Photosynthesis.