Heterotrophs and Autotrophs

Cards (9)

  • Heterotrophs eat other organisms for energy.
  • There are two types of autotrophs, photoautotrophs and chemoautotrophs.
  • Photoautotrophs: organisms that obtain energy from sunlight to create their own organic compounds.
  • Chemoautotrophs: obtain energy from oxidation of chemicals (like H2S) to make their own sugars.
  • Chemoautotrophs Equation: 6CO2 + 18H2S + 3O2 -> C6H12O6 + 18S + 12H2O
  • Autotrophic Organisms take in inorganic materials (CO2 and H2O) and convert them into organic nutrients (Glucose)
  • Autotrophs conduct photosynthesis.
  • Some autotrophic organisms are plant, algae, and some bacteria.
  • Chemoautotrophs - found from 'hot spots' under the ocean which was filled with life and did not require sunlight for photosynthesis.