Trees are classified as autotrophs. This means that they have the ability to produce their own food through a process known as photosynthesis.
During photosynthesis, trees absorb sunlight through their leaves, taking in carbon dioxide from the air and water from the soil. Utilizing sunlight as energy, they convert these ingredients into glucose, a form of sugar that serves as food for the tree. Oxygen is released as a byproduct of this process, which is essential for most life forms on Earth.
In contrast, heterotrophs are organisms that cannot produce their own food and must rely on consuming other living things, such as plants or animals, for nourishment. Since trees synthesize their own food, they do not fall into the heterotroph category. Instead, they are vital contributors to the ecosystem as primary producers, supporting various forms of life around them.