Heterotrophs Depend on Carbon Compounds from Other Organisms
- Heterotrophs are organisms that cannot produce their own food.
- Instead, they rely on external sources of carbon compounds to meet their nutritional needs.
- These compounds include carbohydrates, proteins, lipids, and nucleic acids.
Definition
Heterotroph
Organisms that obtain energy and carbon by consuming other organisms or organic matter.
How Heterotrophs Obtain Carbon Compounds
- Heterotrophs acquire carbon compounds through feeding:
- Primary consumers (herbivores) eat plants or algae.
- Secondary consumers (carnivores) eat herbivores.
- Tertiary consumers eat other carnivores.
Digestion can occur internally or externally, depending on the organism.
Internal Digestion
- Multicellular consumers (e.g., mammals, birds) ingest food and break it down in a digestive system.
- Unicellular consumers (e.g., \textit{Paramecium}) engulf food particles through endocytosis and digest them in vacuoles.
