Autotrophic organisms are able to independently generate energy for the implementation of all life processes. How do they carry out these transformations? What conditions are needed for this? Let's find out.
Autotrophic organisms
Translated from the Greek language, "auto" means "himself", and "trophos" - "food". In other words, autotrophic organisms receive energy from chemical processes that occur in their organisms. Unlike heterotrophs, which feed only on prepared organic substances.
Most representatives of the organic world belong to the second group. Animals, fungi, most bacteria are heterotrophs. Plant organisms independently produce organic matter. Viruses are also a separate kingdom of nature. But of all the signs of living organisms, they can only reproduce their own kind by self-assembly. Moreover, being outside the host organism, viruses are absolutely harmless and do not show signs of life.
Plants
Autotrophic organisms are primarily plant. This is their main distinguishing feature. Organic substances, in particular glucose monosaccharide, they form during photosynthesis. It occurs in plant cells, in specialized organoids called chloroplasts. These are two-membered plastids containing green pigment. The conditions for photosynthesis are also the presence of sunlight, water and carbon dioxide.
The essence of photosynthesis
Carbon dioxide enters the green cells through special formations - stomata. They consist of two wings that open to carry out this process. Through them, gas exchange takes place: carbon dioxide enters the cell, and oxygen generated during photosynthesis enters the environment. In addition to this gas, which is one of the necessary living conditions, plants form glucose. They use it as a food product for the processes of growth and development.
Along with the process of photosynthesis, plants continuously breathe. How can these two opposing processes occur simultaneously? Everything is simple. The breathing process is less intense than photosynthesis. Therefore, plants produce more oxygen than carbon dioxide. However, for a long time being in a dark room with a large number of plants, it will become difficult to breathe. The fact is that the amount of oxygen will decrease, and carbon dioxide, on the contrary, will increase.
In general, photosynthetic organisms are of planetary importance. Thanks to them, there is life on planet Earth. And these are not big words. After all, life without oxygen is impossible.
Bacteria
Autotrophic organisms are bacteria. And this is not about blue-green algae containing the green pigment chlorophyll in the cells.
There is a special group of organisms - chemotrophs. They break down complex organic compounds into simple ones that can be absorbed by plants. When chemical bonds are broken, a certain amount of energy is released, which the chemotrophs use for their vital functions. These include nitrogen-fixing, iron and sulfur bacteria. For example, ammonia oxidizes these organisms to nitrites - salts of nitrous acid, sulfur compounds - to salts of sulfuric acid, sulfates.
But most often among bacteria there is a variety of heterotrophic organisms - saprotrophs. For nutrition, they use the remains of dead organisms or their metabolic products. These are bacteria of decay and fermentation.
An interesting fact is that in nature there are no substances that bacteria could not break down.
Autotrophic organisms are not always capable of forming organic substances. Indeed, very often in nature, the living conditions of organisms change. Then these processes become simply impossible. Autotrophs in the process of evolution adapted to this in their own way. For example, a unicellular animal euglena green during an unfavorable period is able to eat ready-made organic substances. And when the living conditions return to normal, she goes back to photosynthesis. Such organisms are called mixotrophs.
Autotrophic organisms play an important role in nature, providing conditions of existence for all other kingdoms of living nature.