Autotrophic Processes

The processes by which organisms use simple inorganic substances such as gaseous or dissolved carbon dioxide and inorganic nitrogen as nutrient sources. Contrasts with heterotrophic processes which make use of organic materials as the nutrient supply source. Autotrophs can be either chemoautotrophs (or chemolithotrophs), largely ARCHAEA and BACTERIA, which also use simple inorganic substances for their metabolic energy reguirements; or photoautotrophs (or photolithotrophs), such as PLANTS and CYANOBACTERIA, which derive their energy from light. Depending on environmental conditions some organisms can switch between different nutritional modes (autotrophy; HETEROTROPHY; chemotrophy; or PHOTOTROPHY) to utilize different sources to meet their nutrient and energy requirements.

Year introduced: 2007

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Tree Number(s): G02.111.071, G03.087

MeSH Unique ID: D052818

Entry Terms:

• Processes, Autotrophic
• Lithotrophic Processes
• Processes, Lithotrophic
• Autotrophy
• Lithotrophy
• Autotrophic Growth
• Growth, Autotrophic
• Lithotrophic Growth
• Growth, Lithotrophic

See Also:

• Nutritional Physiological Phenomena
• Phototrophic Processes
• Heterotrophic Processes

All MeSH Categories
Phenomena and Processes Category
Chemical Phenomena
Biochemical Phenomena
Autotrophic Processes
Chemoautotrophic Growth
Nitrogen Fixation

All MeSH Categories
Phenomena and Processes Category
Metabolism
Autotrophic Processes
Chemoautotrophic Growth
Nitrogen Fixation