A meal fit for a human heterotroph!
C.Alexander

Living Things Get Energy from Different Sources

We all know that living organisms need food to survive. Not all life forms consume the same things. Autotrophs, known as *self-feeders* are organisms which create "food" using energy from the sun, thermal energy from the Earth, or other such means to feed themselves. All members of the kingdom plantae as well as some protista and monera are autotrophs. Heterotrophs, known as *other-feeders* are organisms which feed themselves by eating other creatures, plant life, or organic molecules which exist outside of themselves. All members of the kingdoms animalia and fungi as well as some protista and monera are heterotrophs. On Earth, nature provides the following three mechanisms for living creatures to be supplied with energy.

Photosynthesis and Chemosynthesis are used exclusively by autotrophs. Both autotrophs and heterotrophs take advantage of respiration.


Last modified January 11, 2005 by Lisa Gardiner.

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