AP BIOLOGY

Detailed explanation-1: -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. Algae, which live in water and whose larger forms are known as seaweed, is autotrophic.

Detailed explanation-2: -Another name for an autotroph is autophyte. It can also be called a producer for its capacity to produce its own food. Examples are shown in the autotroph picture below. Plants, lichens, and algae are examples of autotrophs capable of photosynthesis.

Detailed explanation-3: -There are two types of autotrophs: photoautotrophs and chemoautotrophs.

Detailed explanation-4: -The producers, as autotrophs are also known, begin food chains which feed all life. Heterotrophs cannot make their own food, so they must eat or absorb it. For this reason, heterotrophs are also known as consumers. Consumers include all animals and fungi and many protists and bacteria.

Detailed explanation-5: -Autotrophs are vital to all ecosystems because all organisms need organic molecules and only autotrophs can produce them from inorganic compounds. There are two basic types of autotrophs: photoautotrophs and chemoautotrophs.