Question

What are heterotrophs?

Answer 1

Hint: A heterotroph consumes other plants or mammals for strength and nutrients. Heterotrophs are identified as consumers because they eat producers or other users.

Complete Answer:
- A heterotroph is an organism that eats other animals or plants for strength and nutrients. The term derives from the Greek terms hetero for “other” and trophe for “nurture.”
- Organisms are distinguished into two broad classifications based upon how they take their strength and nutrients: autotrophs and heterotrophs. Autotrophs are identified as producers because they can obtain their food from raw minerals and strength. Examples incorporate algae, plants, and some kinds of bacteria. Dogs, ducks, fish, and people are all examples of heterotrophs.
- Heterotrophs hold the second and third position in a food chain, a series of organisms that produce nutrients and energy for other organisms. Each food chain includes three trophic levels, which represent an organism’s position in an ecosystem.
- Keeping the first trophic level are autotrophs, such as algae and plants. Herbivores — organisms that consume plants—control the second level. Carnivores (animals that eat meat) and omnivores (animals that consume plants and meat) hold the third level. Both primary (herbivores) and subsequent (carnivores and omnivores) consumers are heterotrophs, while prime generators are autotrophs.
- There are two subdivisions of heterotrophs: chemoheterotrophs and photoheterotrophs. Photoheterotrophs are organisms that get their strength from light, but must still use carbon from other organisms, as they cannot use carbon dioxide from the air. Chemoheterotrophs, by difference, get both their strength and carbon from other organisms.

Note: Heterotrophs and autotrophs are two different terms and one must not get confused between the both.
1. Autotrophs: Living organisms which can produce their own food and examples include plants, some algae, etc.
2. Heterotrophs: Living organisms which cannot produce their own and depend on other plants and animals for food and examples include humans, lions, etc.