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thumb|300px|Cycle between autotrophs and heterotrophs. Autotrophs use light, [[carbon dioxide (CO2), and water to form oxygen and complex organic compounds, mainly through the process of photosynthesis (green arrow). Both types of organisms use such compounds via cellular respiration to generate ATP and again form CO2 and water (two red arrows).]]
AI overview
A heterotroph is an organism that cannot make its own food from sunlight and carbon dioxide, so it must obtain energy by consuming other organisms or organic compounds. Heterotrophs are essential to life on Earth because they break down the organic compounds produced by autotrophs, cycling nutrients and energy through ecosystems via cellular respiration.
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Wikidata facts
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- described at URL
- www.nationalgeographic.org/encyclopedia/heterotrophs
- Commons category
- Heterotrophs
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