Introduction

In nature There are various living beings that have the ability to obtain energy from different sources. Some of them are capable of photosynthesis and obtaining energy. of the light solar, while others obtain energy through chemical reactions. In this article, we will talk about the difference between phototrophs and chemotrophs.

Phototrophs

Phototrophs are those living beings capable of carrying out photosynthesis to obtain energy. This means that they are capable of converting sunlight into chemical energy that they use to feed themselves and carry out their metabolic processes.

This type of living beings is mainly found in environments with sunlight, such as plants, algae and cyanobacteria. These organisms are capable of using different pigments to capture the appropriate light spectrum and carry out photosynthesis.

Types of phototrophs

• Photoautotrophs: They are organisms capable of producing their own food from sunlight, such as plants and algae.
• Photoheterotrophs: They are organisms that need to obtain organic matter from other living beings to feed themselves, but they use solar energy to carry out metabolic processes, like some bacteria.

Chemotrophs

Chemotrophs are living beings that obtain energy through chemical reactions. These organisms are capable of obtaining energy from the oxidation of inorganic compounds such as hydrogen sulfide or iron.

This type of living beings is mainly found in environments without sunlight, such as the bottom of the ocean or in hot springs. Chemotrophic organisms use a variety of different metabolic processes, such as chemolithotrophic or anaerobic.

Types of chemotrophs

• Chemoautotrophs: They are organisms capable of producing their own food from inorganic compounds, such as some bacteria.
• Chemoheterotrophs: They are organisms that need to obtain organic matter from other living beings to feed themselves, but they use the energy obtained through chemical reactions to carry out their metabolic processes.

Conclusion

The main difference between phototrophs and chemotrophs is the energy source they use to obtain food. While phototrophs use sunlight to carry out photosynthesis, chemotrophs obtain energy from chemical reactions with inorganic compounds.

Most organisms in nature are phototrophs, this is because sunlight is a free and widely available source of energy. However, chemotrophs are able to survive in extreme environments where sunlight is not available.

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