Heterotroph

A heterotroph (Greek heteron = (an)other and trophe = nutrition) is an organism that requires organic substrates to get its carbon for growth and development. Contrast with autotrophs which use carbon dioxide as sole carbon source. All animals are heterotrophic, as well as fungi and many bacteria. Some parasitic plants have also turned fully or partially heterotrophic, whereas carnivorous plants use their flesh diet to augment their nitrogen supply, but are still autotrophic.

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Heterotrophs are unable to synthesize organic, carbon based compounds independently from the inorganic environment's sources (e.g. Animalia, unlike Plantae, cannot photosynthesize) and therefore must obtain their nutrition from another heterotroph or an autotroph.

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For a species to be termed a heterotroph, it must obtain its carbon from organic compounds. If it obtains nitrogen from organic compounds, but not carbon, it will be deemed an autotroph. If a species obtains carbon from organic compounds and a) obtains energy from light or b) obtains energy from the oxidation of inorganic compounds, it is called a photoheterotroph and a chemoheterotroph respectively.

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See also : Primary nutritional groups

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