Difference Between Autotrophs and Heterotrophs

Table of Contents

• Autotrophs and Heterotrophs
• Difference between Autotrophs and Heterotrophs
• Autotrophs and Heterotrophs Key Points

Food is the only source of energy for all living organisms on this planet. This food is available from different sources.  Living organisms are further divided based on the modes of nutrition:

• Autotrophs
• Heterotrophs

Here in this article, let us know about the differences between autotrophs and heterotrophs, along with the examples.

“Autotrophs are organisms that prepare their own food through the process of photosynthesis, whereas heterotrophs are organisms that cannot prepare their own food and depend upon autotrophs for nutrition.”

Autotrophs

Autotrophs are organisms that undergo autotrophic mode of nutrition. These are the organisms that can prepare their own food from simple substances like carbon dioxide and water. All green plants are examples of autotrophs. These green plants contain chlorophyll pigment in the plant cell that helps in the synthesis of their own food by absorbing energy from the sunlight. All autotrophs are producers and are placed at the primary level in the food web.

Carbohydrates can be converted to fatty acids to produce lipids. Other elements may be added to synthesize organic compounds such as proteins.  Carbohydrates, proteins and lipids can be used as energy sources during respiration by both autotrophs and heterotrophs, recycling carbon dioxide so that it may again be used in photosynthesis.

Also, read about Autotrophic Nutrition

Heterotrophs

Heterotrophs are organisms which cannot prepare their own food and depend upon producers or green plants and other animals for their food. This mode of nutrition is known as the heterotrophic mode of nutrition.

Heterotrophs rely on autotrophs to provide a continuous supply of new organic molecules. Heterotrophs are considered as consumers in the food web and are placed at a secondary or tertiary level.

All the non-green plants and animals, inclusive of human beings, are the best examples of heterotrophs.

The heterotrophs are benefited from photosynthesis in many ways.

• Directly by consuming plants as herbivores
• Indirectly by attacking, killing and consuming other herbivores animals (carnivores) or both animals and plants (omnivores)
• By using oxygen for the cellular respiration process

Also, read about Heterotrophic Nutrition

The differences between autotrophs and heterotrophs are given below:

• Autotrophs and heterotrophs are the two classifications of organisms on the basis of nutrition.
• Autotrophs are organisms that can prepare their own food. On the contrary, heterotrophs depend on autotrophs and other organisms for nutrition.
• Green plants and algae contain chlorophyll that helps them to prepare food with the help of sunlight.
• Heterotrophs include herbivores that feed on plants, carnivores that feed on other animals, omnivores that feed on both plants and animals and decomposers that feed on dead and decaying matter.
• Autotrophs are the primary producers and are placed first in the food chain.
• Heterotrophs are the consumers and are placed at the secondary and tertiary levels.
• Both are beneficial to maintain the energy flow in the ecosystem.

From the above discussion, we can conclude that both autotrophs and heterotrophs and the modes of nutrition play equal roles in maintaining the food chain of the ecosystem.

Learn more about the differences between autotrophs and heterotrophs only at BYJU’S Biology.