Autotrophs are green plants which have the ability to manufacture their own foods. They do this by trapping the energy from the sun by the help of a chemical called chlorophyll, which is found in their leaves. The plants combine carbon dioxide and water in the presence of sunlight to produce glucose. The animals, which are heterotrophs and can not produce their own food depend on autotrophs for food. Thus, the autotrophs are usually described as the primary producers in any ecosystem.
