Question

Differentiate between an autotroph and a heterotroph.

Answer 1

Sr. No.	Autotrophs	Heterotrophs
1.	Some organisms, such as plants, make their own food from simple substances. They are autotrophs, and the mode of nutrition is known as autotrophic nutrition.	Organisms that depend on plants or autotrophs for food are called heterotrophs, and the mode of nutrition is known as heterotrophic nutrition.
2.	Autotrophs are called producers as they make the food required by all other organisms.	Heterotrophs are called consumers as they consume food prepared by autotrophs.
3.	In a food chain, autotrophs make up the first trophic level.	Heterotrophs form the next trophic levels after plants in the food chain.
4.	Plants, algae, and some bacteria are autotrophs.	Most animals, fungi, and some bacteria are heterotrophs.