noun
- an organism that cannot produce its own food and must obtain nutrients by consuming other organisms or organic matter
Usage: biology
Examples
- Animals are heterotrophs because they must eat plants or other animals to survive.
- Fungi are heterotrophs that decompose dead organic material.
- Unlike plants, which are autotrophs, bacteria can be either autotrophs or heterotrophs.
- The food chain begins with autotrophs and continues with various levels of heterotrophs.
- Humans are heterotrophs that depend on consuming other organisms for energy.
- Most heterotrophs in the ocean feed on phytoplankton or other marine life.