four differences between heterotrophic and autitrophic nutrition
Answers
Explanation:
“Autotrophs are organisms that prepare their own food through the process of photosynthesis, whereas heterotrophs are organisms that cannot prepare their own food and depend upon autotrophs for nutrition.”
Autotrophs and Heterotrophs
“Autotrophs are organisms that prepare their own food through the process of photosynthesis, whereas heterotrophs are organisms that cannot prepare their own food and depend upon autotrophs for nutrition.”
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.
Carbohydrates can be converted to fatty acids to produce lipids. Other elements may be added to synthesize organic compounds such as proteins. Carbohydrates, proteins and lipids can be used as energy sources during respiration by both autotrophs and heterotrophs, recycling carbon dioxide so that it may again be used in photosynthesis.
Also, read about Autotrophic Nutrition
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 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.
Autotrophs are members of the plant kingdom and some unicellular organisms like cyanobacteria. On the other hand, heterotrophs are all members of the animal kingdom.
2. The mode of nutrition in autotrophs is that they are producers and prepare their own food in the presence of sunlight with the process of photosynthesis. Whereas the mode of nutrition in heterotrophs is that they are consumers who are dependent on others for their food.
3. Autotrophs can be classified into photoautotrophs and chemoautotrophs. And Heterotrophs can be classified into photoheterotrophs and chemoheterotrophs.
4. In the food chain, autotrophs form the lowest trophic level whereas heterotrophs form the second or third trophic levels