EVERYDAY SCIENCE

Detailed explanation-1: -A heterotroph is an organism that eats other plants or animals for energy and nutrients. The term stems from the Greek words hetero for “other” and trophe for “nourishment.” Organisms are characterized into two broad categories based upon how they obtain their energy and nutrients: autotrophs and heterotrophs.

Detailed explanation-2: -Heterotrophs-These organisms cannot prepare their own food and depends on other organisms for their food. They feed on the complex organic molecules prepared by the autotrophs. They generate energy through the process of respiration and release carbon dioxide.

Detailed explanation-3: -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. They may consume autotrophs or other heterotrophs or organic molecules from other organisms.

Detailed explanation-4: -“Heterotroph is an organism that is unable to synthesize its own food, and therefore, has to rely on other sources, specifically plant and animal matter.” All animals and non-photosynthetic plants are classified as heterotrophs since they are unable to prepare food.

Detailed explanation-5: -Heterotrophs, also known as other-feeders, can’t capture light or chemical energy to make their own food out of carbon dioxide. Humans are heterotrophs. Instead, heterotrophs get organic molecules by eating other organisms or their byproducts. Animals, fungi, and many bacteria are heterotrophs.