Autotroph
An organism that makes its own food
An autotroph is an organism that is capable of producing its own food using light energy or chemical energy from inorganic molecules like CO2 (carbon dioxide) and water. Autotrophs are also commonly referred to as producers in an ecosystem because they provide the base of the food chain by manufacturing organic compounds.
Examples of autotrophs include plants, some bacteria, and certain algae. They use an organelle called chloroplasts to trap light energy and transform it into chemical energy (in the form of organic compounds) through a process called photosynthesis. During photosynthesis, carbon dioxide and water are converted into glucose and oxygen.
Autotrophs play a critical role in the ecosystem by providing food and oxygen for all other organisms, and they are the primary source of energy for the food chain. Without autotrophs, there would be no sustenance for all living beings, and the balance of the ecosystem would be threatened.
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