Phototroph



Photoautotroph (Gk: photo = light, auto = self, troph = nourishment) are organisms that carry out photosynthesis. Using energy from sunlight, carbon dioxide and water are converted into organic materials to be used in cellular functions such as biosynthesis and respiration. In an ecological context, they provide nutrition for all other forms of life (besides other autotrophs such as chemotrophs). In terrestrial environments plants are the predominant variety, while aquatic environments include a range of phototrophic organisms such as algae (e.g. kelp), protists (such as euglena) and bacteria (such as cyanobacteria). One product of this process is starch, which is a storage or reserve form of carbon, which can be used when light conditions are too poor to satisfy the immediate needs of the organism. Photosynthetic bacteria have a substance called bacteriochlorophyll, live in lakes and pools, and use the hydrogen from hydrogen sulfide instead of from water, for the chemical process. (The bacteriochlorophyll pigment absorbs light in the extreme UV and infra-red parts of the spectrum which is outside the range used by normal chlorophyll). Cyanobacteria live in fresh water, seas, soil and lichen, and use a plant-like photosynthesis.

Photoheterotrophic bacteria obtain energy from light, but rely on organic materials for nutrition. A photolithotrophic autotroph is an autotrophic organism that uses light energy, and an inorganic electron source (eg. H2O, H2, H2S), and CO2 as its carbon source. Examples include plants.