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heterotrophic

heterotrophic

9.9
To need carbon and nitrogen from organic material for food to live
  • adjective
  • /ˌhɛtərəˈtrɒfɪk/
  • Specialized
translation icon : heterotrófico
  • Unlike plants, which are autotrophic, animals are heterotrophic and must obtain organic matter to survive.
  • heterotrophic bacteria
  • heterotrophic nitrification
  • heterotrophic respiration

Examples

  • Photosynthetic carbon fixation by microalgae provides an energy source for heterotrophic microorganisms.

    Academic text (1999)
  • The biofilms of the university water fountain drains likely contain heterotrophic bacteria commonly found in tap water (Chaidez & Gerba, 2004).

    Academic text (2009)
  • Conversely, there may be benefits to higher levels of heterotrophic bacteria in drinking water.

    Academic text (1997)
  • In it, independent of A.I. Oparin, he suggested the heterotrophic theory of the origin of life.

    Academic text (1992)
  • Instead, heterotrophic production of both bacterioplankton and phytoplankton must be considered.

    Academic text (1999)
  • Thus, some evidence indicates there may be benefits to having heterotrophic bacteria populate filters.

    Academic text (1997)
  • They're acted upon by the heterotrophic bacteria, the bacteria that use organic carbon.

  • The computed P:R ratios indicate that Lake Bonney was a net heterotrophic system during the period of study.

    Academic text (1999)
  • Heterotrophic bacteria often produce encrustation in gravel packs, on screens, and on pumping equipment, thus causing clogging.

    Academic text (1998)
  • Rollinger and Dote present coincidental evidence that heterotrophic bacteria suppress the growth of coliforms and other enteric pathogens (7).

    Academic text (1997)

Synonyms

holozoic
vsheterotrophic
  • Specialized
9.9

Getting food by eating parts of other living things like animals do

requires organic carbon and nitrogen compounds rather than making its own food

Antonyms

autotrophic
  • Specialized
1 9.9

A living thing that makes its own food using sunlight or chemicals

How Self-Producing

autotrophic
  • Specialized
1 9.9
mixotrophic
  • Specialized
9.9
heterotrophic
  • Specialized
9.9
parasitic
  • Offensive
11 6.6

Surface Forms

heterotrophic positive

Morphology

heterotrophic = heterotroph (semi-transparent) = hetero + troph + ic

Formed by adding the adjectival suffix '-ic' to the noun 'heterotroph'; the morphological process is regular but the elements are specialized scientific terms that may be unfamiliar to general learners.

Etymology

Heterotrophic is made of hetero- 'different' and -trophic 'feeding'. So a heterotrophic organism must get its food from other living things instead of making it itself.