Autotroph

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Green (from chlorophyll) fronds of a maidenhair fern: a photoautotroph

Flowchart to determine if a species is autotroph, heterotroph, or a subtype

An autotroph (from the Greek autos (self) and trophe (nutrition)) is an organism that makes organic compounds from simple molecules.

[change] Uses

Autotrophs are needed in every food chains of all ecosystems. They take energy from the environment (sun light or inorganic sources) and use it to make other organic molecules that are used to carry out various biological functions such as cell growth or repairing broken tissue.

[change] Types

Plants and other organisms that carry out photosynthesis are phototrophs (or photoautotrophs). Bacteria that oxidise inorganic compounds like hydrogen sulfide, ammonium or iron are called chemoautotrophs. Other organisms, called heterotrophs, eat autotrophs.

There are some species that need organic compounds as a source of food, but are able to use light as a source of energy. These are not autotrophic, but heterotrophic. An organism that eats other organisms but gets energy from light as well is called a photoheterotroph, while an organism that eats organic compounds but gets energy from the oxidation of inorganic compounds is caled a chemoheterotroph.

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