A heterotrophs, or chemoorganotrophy (Greek ἕτερος (heteros) = (an)other and τροφή (trophe) = nutrition), is an organism that requires organic substrates to get its chemical energy for its life cycle.1 This contrasts with autotrophs such as plants which are able to directly use sources of energy such as light to produce organic substrates from inorganic carbon dioxide. An example would be Cyanobacteria synechocystis sp. PCC 6803.
Heterotrophs are known as consumers in food chains and obtain organic carbon by eating other heterotrophs or autotrophs. All animals are heterotrophic, as well as fungi and many bacteria. Some animals, such as corals, form symbiotic relationships with autotrophs and obtain organic carbon in this way. Furthermore, some parasitic plants have also turned fully or partially heterotrophic, while so-called carnivorous plants consume animals to augment their nitrogen supply but are still autotrophic.
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 energy, it will be deemed an autotroph. If a species obtains carbon from organic compounds then there are two possible subtypes of these heterotrophs:
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