Heterotroph
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2008-07-07T01:24:51Z
Anxietycello
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{{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]]
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[[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)]]