Photoautotroph

Also known as autotrophic phototroph

thumb|Winogradsky column showing Photoautotrophs in purple and green Photoautotrophs are organisms that can utilize light energy from sunlight, and elements (such as carbon) from inorganic compounds, to produce organic materials needed to sustain their own metabolism (i.e. autotrophy). Such biological activities are known as photosynthesis, and examples of such organisms include plants, algae and cyanobacteria.