Question

Differentiate between heterotrophs and autotrophs in detail

Answer 1

Answer:

Most autotrophs make their "food" through photosynthesis using the energy of the sun. Heterotrophs cannot make their own food, so they must eat or absorb it. Chemosynthesis is used to produce food using the chemical energy stored in inorganic molecules.

Answer 2

Explanation:

Autotrophs;-

Autotrophs are organisms that undergo autotrophic mode of nutrition. These are the organisms that can prepare their own food from simple substances like carbon dioxide, and water. All green plants are examples of autotrophs. These green plants contain chlorophyll pigment in the plant cell that helps in the synthesis of their own food by absorbing energy from the sunlight. All autotrophs are producers and are placed at the primary level in the food web.

Photosynthesis provides the means by which carbon in carbon dioxide is fixed by conversion of carbohydrates including sugars such as glucose and sucrose, cellulose and starches such as amylopectin.

Carbohydrates are interconvertible and may be converted to fatty acids to make lipids. Other elements may be added to synthesize organic compounds such as proteins. Carbohydrates, lipids, and proteins can all be used as sources of energy in respiration by both autotrophs and heterotrophs, recycling carbon dioxide so that it may again be used in photosynthesis.

Heterotrophs :-

Heterotrophs are organisms which cannot prepare their own food and depend upon producers or green plants and other animals for their food. This mode of nutrition is known as the heterotrophic mode of nutrition.

Heterotrophs rely on autotrophs to provide a continuous supply of new organic molecules. Heterotrophs are considered as consumers and in the food web and are placed at a secondary or tertiary level.

All the non-green plants and animals, inclusive of human beings, are the best examples of heterotrophs.

The heterotrophs are benefited from photosynthesis in many ways.

Directly by consuming plants as herbivores

Indirectly by attacking, killing and consuming other herbivores animals (carnivores) or both animals and plants (omnivores),

By using oxygen for the cellular respiration process.