noun
- An organism, especially a plant, that produces its own food through photosynthesis and does not depend on organic matter from other organisms.
Usage: technical; biology
Examples
- Green plants are autophytes because they synthesize glucose from sunlight and carbon dioxide.
- Autophytes form the base of most food chains in terrestrial ecosystems.
- Unlike animals, autophytes do not need to consume other organisms for energy.
- Algae and cyanobacteria are aquatic autophytes that produce oxygen through photosynthesis.
- The term autophyte emphasizes the self-feeding nature of photosynthetic organisms.