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autotroph
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Discern between self-sustaining autotrophs and consumer heterotrophs and find their places in the food chain
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Also known as: autotrophy
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Category: Animals & Nature
Related Topics:
trophic pyramid
chemotroph
lithotroph
phototroph
producer
See all related content →

autotroph, in ecology, an organism that serves as a primary producer in a food chain. Autotrophs obtain energy and nutrients by harnessing sunlight through photosynthesis (photoautotrophs) or, more rarely, obtain chemical energy through oxidation (chemoautotrophs) to make organic substances from inorganic ones. Autotrophs do not consume other organisms; they are, however, consumed by heterotrophs.

This article was most recently revised and updated by John P. Rafferty.