heterotrophs
Organisms requiring food
Heterotrophs are organisms that cannot produce their own food and must obtain nutrients by consuming other organisms or organic matter.
Animals, fungi, and most bacteria are heterotrophs, in contrast to autotrophs like plants that generate energy through photosynthesis.
Heterotrophs occupy every level of the food chain above producers.
Self-nourishing organisms
- producersThose who create goods
- decomposersOrganisms breaking down dead material
- carbon cycleBiogeochemical element circulation process
- nitrogen cycleBiogeochemical element circulation
ecosystem · symbiosis · parasitism · mutualism · commensalism · interdependence · biotic · food source
Organism that consumes others
- carnivoreCreature eating only animals
- herbivorePlant-only consumer
- omnivoreEats plants and animals
- scavengerSeeker of refuse
decomposer · parasite · detritivore · zooplankton · insectivore · frugivore · nectarivore · saprophyte
Multicellular mobile organisms
- fungiSpore-reproducing decomposers
- bacteriaNucleus-free single-celled organisms
- protozoaSingle-celled eukaryotic organisms
- protistsEukaryotic microorganisms, mostly unicellular
invertebrates · mammals · birds · reptiles · amphibians · fish · insects · archaea
Consuming into the body
- digestionBodily food breakdown
- absorptionProcess of taking in
- metabolismCellular nutrient conversion
- organic compoundsCarbon-containing chemical substances
glucose · proteins · carbohydrates · fats · amino acids · enzymes · nutrients · cellular respiration
Ecological feeding hierarchy
- food webInterconnected predator-prey relationships
- energy flowMovement of power through systems
- biomassLiving material in aggregate
- pyramidPointed polyhedral solid
apex · energy transfer · bioaccumulation · biomagnification · consumption · predation · grazing · decomposition
autotrophs
Self-nourishing organisms
- producersThose who create goods
- decomposersOrganisms breaking down dead material
- carbon cycleBiogeochemical element circulation process
nitrogen cycle · ecosystem · symbiosis · parasitism · mutualism · commensalism · interdependence · biotic · food source · organic matter
predator
Organism that consumes others
scavenger · decomposer · parasite · detritivore · zooplankton · insectivore · frugivore · nectarivore · saprophyte · filter feeder
animals
Multicellular mobile organisms
- fungiSpore-reproducing decomposers
- bacteriaNucleus-free single-celled organisms
- protozoaSingle-celled eukaryotic organisms
protists · invertebrates · mammals · birds · reptiles · amphibians · fish · insects · archaea · slime molds
ingestion
Consuming into the body
- digestionBodily food breakdown
- absorptionProcess of taking in
- metabolismCellular nutrient conversion
organic compounds · glucose · proteins · carbohydrates · fats · amino acids · enzymes · nutrients · cellular respiration · ATP
food chain
Ecological feeding hierarchy
- food webInterconnected predator-prey relationships
- energy flowMovement of power through systems
- biomassLiving material in aggregate
pyramid · apex · energy transfer · bioaccumulation · biomagnification · consumption · predation · grazing · decomposition
- food websfood web, food chain, food chains, producer, consumer
- heterotrophsconsumers, fungi, animals, humans, decomposers
- Microbesbacteria, bacterium, virus, mold, prokaryote
- biotreatmentaeration, biofilter, bioreactor, wastewater treatment, nitrification
- soil microbespseudomonas, bacillus, soil bacteria, mycorrhizae, aspergillus
- life formsorganisms, organism, lifeforms, animal, creatures
heterotrophsautotrophs
Self-nourishing organisms
producers · photosynthesizers · plants · phytoplankton · cyanobacteria