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Glite Dictionary
chemoautotroph

chemoautotroph

9.9
An organism that makes food from carbon dioxide using energy from chemicals, not sunlight
  • noun
  • /ˌkiːmoʊˈɔːtəˌtrɔf/
  • Specialized
translation icon : quimioautótrofo
  • Hydrothermal vent communities are often supported by chemoautotroph bacteria.

Examples

  • Some bacteria are chemoautotrophs, using inorganic molecules for energy rather than sunlight.

  • Many chemoautotrophs live near hydrothermal vents, where they oxidize sulfur to obtain energy.

  • Unlike plants, chemoautotrophs do not rely on photosynthesis for growth.

  • A chemoautotroph can thrive in extreme environments.

  • Many chemoautotrophs live near hydrothermal vents.

  • Some bacteria are chemoautotrophs, using inorganic molecules for energy rather than sunlight.

  • Unlike plants, chemoautotrophs obtain their carbon from carbon dioxide and not from organic sources.

Synonyms

chemotrophic autotroph
vschemoautotroph
  • Specialized
8.8

A living thing that gets energy from chemical reactions and uses carbon dioxide as its main source of carbon

is limited to energy from oxidizing inorganic substances rather than any chemical reaction

Surface Forms

chemoautotroph singular
chemoautotrophs plural

Morphology

chemoautotroph = autotroph (semi-transparent) = chemo + auto + troph

The target word is formed by adding chemo- to autotroph, but the specialized scientific meaning is only partly predictable without prior knowledge.

Etymology

Chemoautotroph comes from three parts: chemo- meaning 'chemical', auto- meaning 'self', and -troph meaning 'to feed'. So a chemoautotroph is an organism that 'feeds itself' on chemicals instead of sunlight and uses carbon dioxide as its main carbon source.