AP BIOLOGY

Detailed explanation-1: -An autotroph is an organism that can produce its own food using light, water, carbon dioxide, or other chemicals. Because autotrophs produce their own food, they are sometimes called producers. Plants are the most familiar type of autotroph, but there are many different kinds of autotrophic organisms.

Detailed explanation-2: -Autotrophs are known as producers because they are able to make their own food from raw materials and energy. Examples include plants, algae, and some types of bacteria. Heterotrophs are known as consumers because they consume producers or other consumers.

Detailed explanation-3: -Most autotrophs produce their food through a process known as photosynthesis. Autotrophs use the sun’s energy to transform water from the soil and carbon dioxide from the air into glucose, a nutrient. Glucose is an example of sugar. Glucose provides energy to plants.

Detailed explanation-4: -“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.”

Detailed explanation-5: -Photosynthetic organisms, including plants, algae, and some bacteria, play a key ecological role. They introduce chemical energy and fixed carbon into ecosystems by using light to synthesize sugars.