autotroph
Makes own food
An autotroph is an organism that produces its own food from inorganic substances, using energy from sunlight or chemical reactions.
Plants, algae, and certain bacteria are autotrophs—they don't need to consume other organisms to survive.
The term contrasts with heterotroph, which must obtain nutrients by eating other living things.
Photosynthetic bacteria producing oxygen
- algaePrimitive aquatic photosynthesizers
- phytoplanktonPhotosynthetic aquatic drifters
- plantsPhotosynthesizing rooted organisms
- diatomsSingle-celled silica algae
kelp · seaweed · green algae · red algae · nitrifying bacteria · aquatic plants
Light-harvesting plant pigment
- chloroplastLight-harvesting cell structure
- sunlightRadiance from our star
- carbon dioxideRespiration byproduct, photosynthesis fuel
- oxygenElement eight, colorless gas
glucose · stroma · ATP · pigment · stomata · carbohydrate · energy conversion · water splitting
One who makes things
- food chainEcological feeding hierarchy
- food webInterconnected predator-prey relationships
- biomassLiving material in aggregate
- ecosystemInterconnected organisms and surroundings
carbon cycle · energy flow · nutrients · biotic · habitat · biodiversity · nitrogen fixation · energy pyramid
Replenishing without outside help
- biosynthesisLiving production of molecules
- anabolismMetabolic construction of molecules
- energy storageCapturing power for later
- organic compoundsCarbon-containing chemical substances
Hot water underground
- deep-sea ventsSeafloor openings releasing heated water
- hydrogen sulfideToxic gas, foul-smelling
- thermophileHeat-adapted living thing
- extremophileLife in harsh conditions
cyanobacteria
Photosynthetic bacteria producing oxygen
- algaePrimitive aquatic photosynthesizers
- phytoplanktonPhotosynthetic aquatic drifters
- plantsPhotosynthesizing rooted organisms
diatoms · kelp · seaweed · green algae · red algae · nitrifying bacteria · aquatic plants
chlorophyll
Light-harvesting plant pigment
- chloroplastLight-harvesting cell structure
- sunlightRadiance from our star
- carbon dioxideRespiration byproduct, photosynthesis fuel
oxygen · glucose · stroma · ATP · pigment · stomata · carbohydrate · energy conversion · water splitting
producer
One who makes things
- food chainEcological feeding hierarchy
- food webInterconnected predator-prey relationships
- biomassLiving material in aggregate
ecosystem · carbon cycle · energy flow · nutrients · biotic · habitat · biodiversity · nitrogen fixation · energy pyramid
self-feeding
Replenishing without outside help
- biosynthesisLiving production of molecules
- anabolismMetabolic construction of molecules
- energy storageCapturing power for later
hydrothermal
Hot water underground
- deep-sea ventsSeafloor openings releasing heated water
- hydrogen sulfideToxic gas, foul-smelling
- thermophileHeat-adapted living thing
- Auto- wordsautomobile, autopilot, autocorrect, autobiography, autograph
- ecological rolesproducer, consumer, decomposer, predator, prey
- food websfood web, food chain, food chains, producer, consumer
- Carbon Cyclecarbon cycle, carbon dioxide, CO2, photosynthesis, respiration
- metabolismcatabolism, anabolism, metabolism, glycolysis, metabolic rate
- feedersbird feeder, pet feeder, hummingbird feeder, tube feeder, hanging feeder
autotrophheterotroph
Organism needing organic food
consumer · parasite · decomposer · herbivore · carnivore
autotrophconsumer
One who acquires goods
decomposer · apex predator · herbivore · carnivore · omnivore