Question

Differentiate between an autotroph and a heterotroph

Answer 1

The difference between autotrophs and heterotrophs is given below : 

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 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 hetertrophs.