Food Chains - Autotrophs and Heterotrophs

A food chain has several trophic levels (feeding levels). We call the first trophic level organisms (commonly plants) producers and the other trophic level organisms consumers. The other term used to describe producers and consumers is autotrophs and heterotrophs respectively. Autotrophs are able to produce their own complex organic compounds ('food' - eg. glucose) from simple inorganic substances. Most autotrophs do this using photosynthesis. Heterotrophs are not able to produce all of their own complex organic compounds ('food' - eg. glucose) from simple inorganic substances. They can only get them by eating/taking in/consuming other organisms or their products. For more Biology videos check out www.anytimeeducation.com