Heterotroph 97114 224039927 2008-07-07T01:24:51Z Anxietycello 7181612 {{feeding}} {{expand|date=April 2008}} {{Unreferenced|date=November 2007}} [[Image:Troph flowchart.svg|thumb|300px|[[Flowchart]] to determine if a species is [[autotroph]], heterotroph, or a subtype]] A '''heterotroph''', or chemoorganotrophy ([[Greek language|Greek ]] '''''heterone''''' = (an)other and '''''trophe''''' = nutrition), is an [[organism]] that requires [[organic compound|organic]] substrates to get its carbon for growth and development. A heterotroph is known as a consumer in the chain. Contrast with [[autotroph]]s which use inorganic [[carbon dioxide]] or [[bicarbonate]] as sole carbon source. All [[animal]]s are heterotrophic, as well as [[fungi]] and many [[bacterium|bacteria]]. Some [[parasite|parasitic]] plants have also turned fully or partially heterotrophic, whereas [[carnivorous plants]] use their flesh diet to augment their nitrogen supply, but are still autotrophic. Heterotrophs are unable to synthesize organic [[carbon]]-based compounds independently from the inorganic environment's sources (e.g. [[Animal]]ia, unlike [[Plant]]ae, cannot [[Photosynthesis|photosynthesize]]) and therefore must obtain their nutrition from another heterotroph or an autotroph. For a [[species]] to be termed a heterotroph, it must obtain its carbon from [[organic compound]]s. If it obtains [[nitrogen]] from [[organic compounds]], but not [[energy]], it will be deemed an autotroph. If a [[species]] obtains [[carbon]] from [[organic compound]]s then there are two possible subtypes of these heterotrophs: * [[photoheterotroph]] — obtains [[energy]] from light and must obtain carbon in an organic form * [[chemoheterotroph]] — obtains [[energy]] from the consumption of organic molecules and an organic form of carbon In simpler terminology, a heterotroph is an organism that is incapable of making its own food from light or [[inorganic compound]]s, and feeds on organisms or the remains of other organisms to get its necessary energy to survive. ==See also== *[[Auxotrophy]] *[[Bradytroph]] *[[Autotroph]] {{feeding}} [[Category:Trophic ecology]] [[Category:Biology]] [[ca:Heterotròfia]] [[cs:Heterotrofie]] [[da:Heterotrof]] [[de:Heterotrophie]] [[et:Heterotroof]] [[es:Nutrición heterótrofa]] [[eo:Heterotrofo]] [[eu:Heterotrofo]] [[fr:Hétérotrophie]] [[hr:Heterotrofni organizmi]] [[id:Heterotrof]] [[ia:Heterotropho]] [[is:Ófrumbjarga lífvera]] [[it:Eterotrofia]] [[he:הטרוטרוף]] [[lt:Heterotrofai]] [[nl:Heterotroof]] [[ja:従属栄養生物]] [[no:Heterotrofi]] [[nn:Heterotrofi]] [[oc:Eterotrofia]] [[pl:Cudzożywność]] [[pt:Heterotrofismo]] [[ro:Heterotrof]] [[ru:Консументы]] [[simple:Heterotroph]] [[sk:Heterotrofia]] [[sl:Heterotrof]] [[fi:Toisenvaraisuus]] [[sv:Heterotrofi]] [[th:เฮเทโรทรอพ]] [[tg:Ҳетеротроф]] [[tr:Heterotrof]] [[uk:Гетеротрофи]] [[vec:Eterotrofìa]] [[zh:消费者 (生物)]]