An organism that can capture energy from sunlight or chemicals and use it to produce its own food is called an autotroph. Autotrophs are crucial components of ecosystems because they serve as producers, forming the base of the food chain.
There are two main types of autotrophs:
- Photosynthetic autotrophs: These organisms, such as plants and some bacteria, use sunlight to convert carbon dioxide and water into glucose and oxygen through the process of photosynthesis.
- Chemoautotrophs: These organisms, often found in extreme environments like deep-sea vents, obtain energy by oxidizing inorganic substances, such as hydrogen sulfide, to produce their own food.
By synthesizing their own food, autotrophs play a vital role in supporting life on Earth, providing energy and organic material for other organisms, known as heterotrophs, which cannot produce their own food.