Organisms that do not produce their own food are known as heterotrophs. Unlike autotrophs, which can synthesize their own food through processes like photosynthesis or chemosynthesis, heterotrophs depend on other organisms for their nutrition.
Heterotrophs can be classified into several categories based on their feeding habits. For example, herbivores consume plants, carnivores eat other animals, omnivores include both plant and animal matter in their diets, and decomposers feed on dead organic material, breaking it down into simpler substances.
This dependency on other organisms is essential for their survival and plays a vital role in ecosystems. Heterotrophs are an integral part of food chains and food webs, connecting various organisms and facilitating energy transfer throughout the environment. Without heterotrophs, ecosystems would fail to function properly, as they help in recycling nutrients and maintaining ecological balance.