Autotrophs, including photoautotrophs and chemoautotrophs, are essential organisms capable of creating their own food. They use sunlight or inorganic molecules as energy sources, sustaining ecosystems.
Autotrophs, such as plants, algae, and photosynthetic bacteria, are organisms capable of synthesizing their own food using inorganic carbon as a carbon source. Photoautotrophs use sunlight as an energy source for photosynthesis, while chemoautotrophs use inorganic molecules as an energy source. These autotrophs play a crucial role in ecosystems by providing energy for other organisms.