Autotrophs

Alga (singular of algae) is an example of an autotroph because it is capable of photosynthesis. Click on image for full size (122K jpeg) Image courtesy of Corel Photography Autotrophs are organisms that can "make their own food" from an inorganic source of carbon (carbon dioxide) given a source of energy. Most autotrophs use sunlight in the process of photosynthesis to make their own food. Photosynthesis is the name of the process which autotrophs use to convert water, carbon dioxide, and solar energy into sugars and oxygen. Examples of autotrophs are plants and algae (shown in the picture). Autotrophs are the producers of the food chain. The word autotroph comes from the Greek autos=self and trophe=nutrition.

Last modified August 9, 2006 by Jennifer Bergman.
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