Describe the nutritional modes of organisms based upon where

Describe the nutritional modes of organisms based upon where they obtain carbon energy. Include an example of each.

Solution

Describe the nutritional modes of organisms based upon where they obtain carbon and energy.

Almost all organisms on the earth need energy to do their work, and carbon to use in building their chemical structures. And these two (energy and carbon) has to be obtained from external sources, based on the way they obtain energy and carbon, organisms are broadly classified into four different groups.

Classification

Obtaining energy and carbon

Examples

Autotrophs

Photoautotrophs

They get energy from sunlight and will not depend on other organisms for carbon. Use CO2 as a carbon source.

All photosynthetic prokaryotes

Plants (eukaryotes)

Chemoautotrophs

These make use of inorganic chemicals as an energy source. For example, H2S, Fe2+ etc and CO2 will serve as a carbon source.

Archaea living in hydrothermal vents.

Heterotrophs

Photoheterotrophs

Use light as an energy source and will use organic molecules as a carbon source. These type of organisms are rare.

Heliobacteria, non-sulfur bacteria, green non-sulfur bacteria etc

Chemoheterotrophs

Use organic molecules like sugars as an energy source.

Use organic molecules like proteins, sugars, fats, nucleic acids, etc. as a carbon source. This type of nutrition is most common form of nutrition on Earth

Most of the prokaryotes, protists, fungi, and animals

Classification	Obtaining energy and carbon	Examples
Autotrophs	Photoautotrophs	They get energy from sunlight and will not depend on other organisms for carbon. Use CO2 as a carbon source.	All photosynthetic prokaryotes Plants (eukaryotes)
Chemoautotrophs	These make use of inorganic chemicals as an energy source. For example, H2S, Fe2+ etc and CO2 will serve as a carbon source.	Archaea living in hydrothermal vents.
Heterotrophs	Photoheterotrophs	Use light as an energy source and will use organic molecules as a carbon source. These type of organisms are rare.	Heliobacteria, non-sulfur bacteria, green non-sulfur bacteria etc
Chemoheterotrophs	Use organic molecules like sugars as an energy source. Use organic molecules like proteins, sugars, fats, nucleic acids, etc. as a carbon source. This type of nutrition is most common form of nutrition on Earth	Most of the prokaryotes, protists, fungi, and animals