Question

Differentiate between an autotroph and a heterotroph.

Answer 1

1. Autotrophs are species that can create their own food through photosynthesis.
2. Heterotrophs cannot prepare their own food and must rely on autotrophs for nourishment.

Autotrophs	Heterotrophs
Plants, for example, produce their own nourishment from simple ingredients. They are known as autotrophs, and their feeding style is known as autotrophic nutrition.	Heterotrophs are organisms that rely on plants or autotrophs for nourishment, and heterotrophic nutrition is the mechanism of nutrition they use.
Autotrophs are known as producers because they produce the food that all other species require.	Heterotrophs are known as consumers because they eat food made by autotrophs.
Autotrophs are the first trophic level of a food chain.	After plants, heterotrophs form the next trophic level in the food chain.
Autotrophs include plants, algae, and some microorganisms.	Heterotrophs include most mammals, fungi, and microbes.