What is the name for an organism that cannot produce its own food? 🔊
An organism that cannot produce its own food is called a heterotroph. Unlike autotrophs, which synthesize their nutrients from inorganic sources (like plants using photosynthesis), heterotrophs depend on consuming organic matter for energy. This group includes animals, fungi, and many bacteria, and it encompasses a range of feeding strategies, including herbivores, carnivores, and decomposers. Heterotrophs play vital roles in ecosystems as consumers and recyclers of nutrients.
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