Autotrophs
- Organisms that make complex organic materials from inorganic raw materials
- Requires complex organic molecules for:
- Growth
- Metabolic activities
- Photoautotrpohs are organisms that use light energy for such processes (producers)
- Chemoautotrophs use energy from other chemical reactions to make complex organic materials (not producers)
Heterotrophs
- Organisms that ingest/absorb carbon produced by other organisms
- Decomposers are also heterotrophs
- Obtain nutrients by eating plants/other animals