Autotroph

Autotrophs are organisms that produce their own food. In other words, they do not have to eat other organisms to obtain organic food molecules. They are called the producers of the biosphere because they are able to make organic molecules from inorganic raw materials in the environment.

An example of autotrophs would be plants because all they require are water, minterals from the soil and carbon dioxide from the air. In fact, they are considered photoautotrophs because they use receive energy to synthesize carbohydrates, lips, other organic substances and proteins from sunlight.

Other examples of autotrophs include algae, certain protists, and some prokaryotes.


Works Cited:
Campbell, Neil, Jane Reece, and Lawrence Mitchell. “Photosynthesis.” Biology. Fifth ed. Menlo Park: Jim Green Publishing, 1999. 295. Print.