Heterotroph
Heterotroph
Heterotroph (pronounced: /ˈhɛtərəˌtroʊf/) is a term used in the field of biology to describe organisms that cannot produce their own food and must rely on consuming other organisms for their energy and nutrient requirements. The term is derived from the Greek words "heteros" meaning "different" and "trophe" meaning "nourishment".
Etymology
The term "heterotroph" was first used in the late 19th century and is derived from the Greek words "heteros" meaning "different" and "trophe" meaning "nourishment". This term was coined to differentiate these organisms from autotrophs, which are capable of producing their own food through processes such as photosynthesis or chemosynthesis.
Types of Heterotrophs
Heterotrophs can be classified into different types based on their feeding habits:
- Herbivores: These are heterotrophs that primarily consume plant material.
- Carnivores: These are heterotrophs that primarily consume other animals.
- Omnivores: These are heterotrophs that consume both plant and animal material.
- Detritivores: These are heterotrophs that consume decaying organic material.
- Parasites: These are heterotrophs that consume nutrients from a host organism, often causing harm to the host.
Related Terms
- Autotroph: An organism that can produce its own food from inorganic substances.
- Consumer (biology): An organism that generally obtains food by feeding on other organisms or organic matter due to lack of the ability to manufacture own food from inorganic sources.
- Producer (biology): An organism, either a green plant, chemosynthetic bacterium, or protist, that produces its own food through photosynthesis or chemosynthesis and constitutes the first trophic level in a food chain.
See Also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Heterotroph
- Wikipedia's article - Heterotroph
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