The Autotrophic organisms Are those plant organisms and some bacteria that are able to produce the foods that sustain it.
To do this, they are based on inorganic elements that help in simplifying your metabolism. Living autotrophs are characterized by their greenish color.
From very remote times it was known that living beings were animals or plants, however there were organisms lacking a cell nucleus that could not be included in any of the classifications described. This brought about the division between animal and vegetable kingdom, the first with Heterotrophic feeding And the auto power second.
The living beings of autotrophic feeding, so that the metabolism can be realized, use different types of energy like solar and geothermal. Being the solar energy Most common, originated during the photosynthesis , Which transform into chemical energy. For this reason they are known as photolitoautotrophic.
Photosynthesis is the procedure performed by plants and some bacteria to absorb the energy of the sun, which they later use to transform inorganic matter into organic matter that allows them to develop and grow. It is divided into two phases, photochemistry and carbon dioxide fixation.
These organisms are of vital importance in the constitution of the food chain, since of them depends the feeding of the heterotrophic organisms, mostly animals. They are called producing organisms.
As for the feeding of autotrophic organisms, it is understood that it is known as autotrophic nutrition, that is, they do not feed on living beings. Its main chemical component is carbon, which is fixed during the Calvin cycle. For their existence they only need water, carbon dioxide and inorganic salts.
Classification
The autotrophic organisms are in turn divided into photoautótrofos and quimioautótrofos. The term photoautótrofos is derived from the Greek phototroph that means"to feed on light", among these we find plants and seaweed.
Photoautótrofos are all those organisms that, as its name indicates, whose energy depends on the photosynthesis.
Chemoautotrophs, on the other hand, are organisms that amplify chemical reactions (oxidation) to obtain energy and grow in mineral environments of complete darkness. Among these we have the prokaryotes.
Characteristics of autotrophic organisms
- They are usually organisms of plant origin and some bacteria.
- Its color is greenish except for the bacteria that tend to present reddish color.
- They are producing organisms.
- In their operation they take energy from the outside, they use solar energy and geothermal energy.
- They are photolitoautotrophic because their transformation occurs during photosynthesis.
- They are primordial for the feeding of heterotrophic organisms.
- Their nutrition is autotrophic, they make their own food.
- They contain carbon, a chemical component essential for their functions.
- They are the beginning of the food chain.
- They convert physical and chemical energy into carbohydrate.
- They only need water, carbon dioxide and inorganic salts to exist.
- They are divided into photosynthetic and chemosynthetic.
- They do not depend on other living beings to feed themselves.
- They are found in both the aquatic and terrestrial environments.
- They contribute oxygen to the atmosphere.
- Your cells contain Chloroplasts .
- They perform anabolic reactions.
- During its evolution the autotrophic organisms gave origin to the plants, algae and bacteria and photosynthetic that are in the environment.
- They are capable of converting CO2 (carbon dioxide) into simplified organic aggregates.
- They contain simplified organic aggregates such as starch, glucose and sucrose.
Examples
1- Bacteria of sulfur : Perform the oxidation process for which they require oxygen, are often used in agriculture to improve Floors .
2- Bacteria of nitrogen : They are used to make the soils more fertile, through the oxidation of ammonia resulting in nitrates.
3- Iron Bacteria : These bacteria live and increase in the aquatic zones, modify the ferrous compounds in ferric by the oxidation process.
4- Hydrogen Bacteria : Its oxidation occurs through oxygen, from this comes its name as bacteria of the detonating gas. Among these are the Bacillus pantotrophus .
5- Cyanobacteria : Include prokaryotic cells , These are suitable for photosynthesis. The blue-green algae are of this type.
6- Red algae : Are the protists, known because they include chlorophyll, however some have pigmentation that makes them different from the others. Very developed inner thighs develop. Belong to the group Phylum Rhodophyta.
7- Ochromonas : They are those algae that possess a single cell, such is the case of Chrysophyta, very common to have chloroplasts and flagella that help to move with ease. They are characterized by their golden color.
8- Petroselinum crispum : Belongs to the apiaceae family, widely used in the kitchen as a condiment.
9- Quercus petraea: Integrates fagaceous families, occurs in very dry soils usually rocky.
10- Asteraceae : They grow in temperate regions, of the vegetal kingdom it is the largest family that exists, in its leaves the photosynthetic process takes place.
11- Zacategramine : They reproduce in different species, both in temperate and humid climates as in dry ones.
12- Hydrangea : They have a cup shape, their leaves with very short ones, they develop better in soils with higher concentration of acidity.
13- Laurus nobilis : It has bluish and green leaves with corrugated edges, typical of fresh soils.
14- Diatom : They are photosensitizing algae that have a single cell, reproduce in aquatic habitats, belong to the group of protists, their organism is formed by a cell wall which has as its main component the opal silica.
15- Xanthophyceae : They are algae whose coloration oscillates between green and yellow thanks to the action of the chloroplasts, are in both aquatic and terrestrial habitat.
16- Protozoa : Because of their size they have a single cell, just like the Xanthophyceae what Are developed in a terrestrial or aquatic environment.
17- Scytonema : Also known as Spirulina , Of greenish blue color, is one of the first algae that existed.
18- Pteridophytes : Are known as vascular plants, grow in terrestrial and aquatic environments.
19- Cupressus : They are plants of dry soils, in Cold climates .
20- Quercus ilex : Originating in the family of the phagaceae, dark green and provided with some thorns.
21- Xanthophytes : They are algae that grow both in surface waters and in soil. Their cells possess a single nucleus, are grouped in colonies.
22- Rhizoclonium . They are distinguished by extremely thin filaments, chloroplasts coated with starch. They reproduce in fresh water forming dense surfaces.
23- Coleochaete : Circular algae, their preferred habitat are submerged rocks.
24- Chamomilla recutita : Belonging to the asteraceae family, they proliferate in drained soils and warm climates.
25- Salix babylonica : Typical of wetlands or wetlands. They withstand extremely cold climates.
26- Olea europaea : They grow on poor, not very humid soils, at warm and sunny temperatures.
27- Glaucophytes : They are algae of red and green colors, of a single nucleus and biflagelos. They reproduce in fresh water.
28- Heterokontophytes : They can develop their life in terrestrial and humid environments. Among these are golden and brown algae.
29- Haptophytes : They are single cell algae, their colors are yellow and brown, they have scales.
30- Cryptophytes : They are in soils and deep waters, they support drought seasons of the arid regions.
31- Bryophytes : They proliferate in fresh and salty waters, forming dense groups as if they were a cover. They store starch and fats.
32- Spirulina : Belong to the group of Arthrospira , Contain a single molecule of DNA , It develops in fresh waters, mainly lagoons or ponds of great depth, its color oscillates between blue and green, of spiral form.
33- Xanthophyta : They are freshwater algae, however some species propagate in terrestrial environments. They have one or more cells, among their colors we can differentiate green, red and brown.
34- Cactus : They grow in zones with very intense climates, of saline soils.
Importance of autotrophic organisms
It is necessary to emphasize the importance of autotrophic organisms for the existence of other living beings, due to the fact that being the beginning of the food chain, they directly feed both herbivores and carnivores.
In the same way, their existence is important for sustaining life on our planet, which is why we must devote special care to the environment In which we live, especially, ensuring that green areas do not suffer alterations.
Also, autotrophic organisms convert physical and chemical energy into carbohydrates, regardless of whether or not organic substrates exist.
References
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- Biologiamedica (2010) Origin of the Cell: Heterotrophic and Autotrophic Organisms. Recovered from: biologiamedica.blogspot.com.
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- Encyclopedia of Examples (2017). "15 Examples of Autotrophic Organisms". Retrieved from: examples.co.
- Lincoln, T; Zeiger, E. (2006). Plant Physiology. Volume 1. Universitat Jaume. USES.
- Oceanic Self-Learning Encyclopedia. Volume 5. Océano Grupo Editorial S.A. Spain.
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