Phototroph

Phototroph

Photoautotrophs or Phototroph ("Gk": photo = light, auto = self, troph = nourishment) are organisms (commonly plants) that carry out photosynthesis. Energy from sunlight, carbon dioxide and water are converted into organic materials to be used in cellular functions such as biosynthesis and respiration. In an ecological context, they provide nutrition for all other forms of life (besides other autotrophs such as chemotrophs). In terrestrial environments plants are the predominant variety, while aquatic environments include a range of phototrophic organisms such as algae (e.g. kelp), other protists (such as euglena) and bacteria (such as cyanobacteria). One product of this process is starch, which is a storage or reserve form of carbon, which can be used when light conditions are too poor to satisfy the immediate needs of the organism. Photosynthetic bacteria have a substance called bacteriochlorophyll, live in lakes and pools, and use the hydrogen from hydrogen sulfide instead of from water, for the chemical process. (The bacteriochlorophyll pigment absorbs light in the extreme UV and infra-red parts of the spectrum which is outside the range used by normal chlorophyll). Cyanobacteria live in fresh water, seas, soil and lichen, and use a plant-like photosynthesis.

A "photolithotrophic autotroph" is an autotrophic organism that uses light energy, and an inorganic electron source (eg. H2O, H2, H2S), and CO2 as its carbon source. Examples include plants.

Flowchart

*Autotroph
**Chemoautotroph
**Photoautotroph
*Heterotroph
**Chemoheterotroph
**Photoheterotroph

ee also

*Primary nutritional groups
*Prototroph

References


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  • Phototroph — Phototrophie oder Fototrophie (altgriechisches Kunstwort φωτοτροφή, v. φως phos = das Licht + τροφή trophé = die Ernährung) ist die Nutzung von Licht als Energiequelle durch Lebewesen. Organismen, die dazu fähig sind, werden als phototroph… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • phototroph — fototrofas statusas T sritis augalininkystė apibrėžtis Organizmas, organinių medžiagų sintezei naudojantis šviesos energiją. atitikmenys: angl. phototroph rus. фототроф …   Žemės ūkio augalų selekcijos ir sėklininkystės terminų žodynas

  • phototroph — phototrophic, adj. /foh teuh trof , trohf /, n. Biol. any organism that uses light as its principal source of energy. [1940 45; PHOTO + TROPH] * * * phototroph to trophy: see photo 1 …   Useful english dictionary

  • phototroph — phototrophic, adj. /foh teuh trof , trohf /, n. Biol. any organism that uses light as its principal source of energy. [1940 45; PHOTO + TROPH] * * * …   Universalium

  • phototroph — noun A photoautotroph See Also: phototrophy …   Wiktionary

  • phototroph — An organism that uses light for its energy needs. Cf.:photoautotroph, photoheterotroph, photolithotroph …   Medical dictionary

  • phototroph — pho|to|troph*, auch foto... <zu ↑...troph> die Phototrophie betreffend (Biol.); phototrophe Bakterien: Bakterien, die die Fähigkeit besitzen, Licht als Energiequelle zu nutzen …   Das große Fremdwörterbuch

  • phototroph — n. (Biology) organism that uses sunlight to produce food (such as plants and algae) …   English contemporary dictionary

  • phototroph — [ fəʊtə(ʊ)trəʊf] noun Biology an organism using energy from sunlight to synthesize nutriment. Derivatives phototrophic adjective …   English new terms dictionary

  • phototroph — pho•to•troph [[t]ˈfoʊ təˌtrɒf, ˌtroʊf[/t]] n. ecl any organism that uses light as its principal source of energy • Etymology: 1940–45 pho to•troph′ic, adj …   From formal English to slang

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