A short note on Heterotrophs

Which category do humans belong to? Are they the one that produces their food or the one that is dependent on other sources of carbon for getting nutrition? Well, we all are aware that we as humans are dependent on sources of carbon like plants and animals. We can’t make our food chemically, but after it has been chemically processed. 

Humans belong to the category of heterotrophs, who don’t have the potential to produce and process inorganic molecules with chemical processes. Therefore, it derives its nutrition from other sources of carbon like plants and animals. The process of carbon fixation is only possible for the other kind of organism, the autographs. Autotrophs are those organisms, which by photosynthesis can process the inorganic molecules into something that can be produced by the heterotrophs. Thus, the heterotrophs depend on Heterotrophic nutrition for their sustenance and nutrition.

Meaning of Heterotrophs

The meaning of Heterotrophs can be given as those living organisms that produce their food and are conditional on other sources of carbon for gaining nutrition. These sources of carbon may be some kind of plants and animals. The term heterotrophs originated from two words, ‘hetero’ which means ‘other’ and ‘trophs’ means ‘nourishment’. 

Heterotrophs cannot process the inorganic molecules of carbon with the method of carbon fixation. Here, carbon fixation refers to the process by which the autographs process the inorganic carbon compounds into organic ones. This is usually conceivable with a way of photosynthesis. In this context lies the term Heterotrophic nutrition which can be defined as that mode of nutrition where the organisms are dependent on the other carbon sources for its food and nourishment. 

Types of Heterotrophs

Heterotrophs are those living organisms that produce their food and are conditional on other sources of carbon for gaining nutrition. These may be indexed into two groups : 

Photoheterotrophs and Chemoheterotrophs

Photoheterotrophs can be described as those heterotrophs that are not only dependent on carbon dioxide as their source of energy but also depend on the energy from sunlight. This means that these are similar to autotrophs but feed on other animals for their carbon needs, thus categorised into the category of heterotrophs. Some of the instances of Photoheterotrophs are the green non-sulphur bacteria, the purple non-sulphur bacteria, and heliobacteria. 

Chemoheterotrophs refer to that category of classic heterotrophs that we can know with the basic definition of the heterotrophs. These are those organisms who don’t have the potential to process inorganic molecules with chemical processes. Therefore, it derives its nutrition from other sources of carbon like plants and animals. 

Organotrophs and Lithotrophs

This categorisation is based on the type of compounds which are used by these heterotrophs as sources of electrons. Organotrophs can be defined as those heterotrophs that make use of the reduced carbon compounds like fats, protein and carbohydrates as their sources of electrons. Lithotrophs refer to those heterotrophs which make use of inorganic compounds like nitrate and sulphur as sources of electrons. 

Heterotrophic examples are humans, animals, cats, dogs, fungi, insects, worms, birds, fishes and chameleons.

Role of Heterotrophs

The main suspicion which arises is, is heterotrophic nutrition and the heterotrophs significant for our ecosystem? In the food chain, the heterotrophs acquire various places which makes it very important for the ecosystem. As we know, if even one category of a living organism is removed from the food chain, the whole food chain will be disturbed by it. Heterotrophs play a crucial role at every stage of the food chain and food web. 

If we contemplate the category of heterotrophs as primary consumers, then these belong to the category of herbivores. Herbivores feed on plants and some are even capable of producing their own food, like phytoplankton. The next category is that of the carnivores who feed on the flesh of other animals for their food. Examples of these animals can be wolf, lions, shark and Giant triton. The organisms in the secondary category are dependent on the primary ones for their food and sustenance. 

The next category of heterotrophs includes the tertiary heterotrophs, also known as the top predators which are dependent on both the primary and secondary level organisms for their food and sustenance. Heterotrophic Examples who consume flesh can be of a wolf who consumes the flesh of both the herbivores and carnivores animals. Last category is of the omnivore animals that feed on herbivores and animals of their own kind for their food.  

Conclusion

In conclusion, Heterotrophic nutrition can be defined as that mode of nutrition where the living organisms that produce their food and are conditional on other sources of carbon for gaining nutrition. These sources of carbon may be some kind of plants and animals. Heterotrophs play a crucial role at every stage of the food chain and food web. In the food chain, the heterotrophs acquire various places which makes it very important for the ecosystem. As we know, if even one category of a living organism is removed from the food chain, the whole food chain will be disturbed by it.