What do you mean by photo autotrophs?

The correct answer is Plants synthesize their food themselves.

Key Points

• Photoautotrophs are organisms that use sunlight to synthesize their own food through the process of photosynthesis.
• These organisms convert light energy into chemical energy stored in glucose molecules.
• Examples of photoautotrophs include plants, algae, and cyanobacteria.
• They play a crucial role in the ecosystem by producing oxygen as a byproduct and serving as primary producers in food chains.
• Photoautotrophs require basic inputs like sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide to synthesize their food.

Additional Information

• Photosynthesis
  • It is a biochemical process where plants, algae, and cyanobacteria convert light energy into chemical energy.
  • Occurs in specialized cell structures called chloroplasts, which contain the pigment chlorophyll.
  • The general equation for photosynthesis is: 6CO₂ + 6H₂O → C₆H₁₂O₆ + 6O₂.
  • Photosynthesis provides oxygen essential for respiration in animals and humans.
• Autotrophs
  • Autotrophs are organisms capable of synthesizing their own food from inorganic substances.
  • They are classified as photoautotrophs (light-dependent) and chemoautotrophs (chemical-dependent).
  • Photoautotrophs utilize sunlight, whereas chemoautotrophs rely on chemical reactions to produce energy.
• Cyanobacteria
  • Cyanobacteria, also known as blue-green algae, are photoautotrophic microorganisms.
  • They play an important role in nitrogen fixation and oxygen generation in aquatic ecosystems.
• Primary Producers
  • Organisms that produce organic compounds from inorganic substances are termed primary producers.
  • Photoautotrophs are the main primary producers, forming the base of ecological food chains.