Index >> Bacterial Nutrition >> Autotrophs / Lithotrophs

Autotrophs / Lithotrophs- Autotrophs (self feeders) or lithotrophs are organisms whose sole source of carbon is CO₂, They require only water, inorganic salts and CO₂ for growth. Different sources of energy are used to fix (reduce) COI to various organic compounds. Autotrophs include both photosynthetic and chemosynthetic organisms.

The photosynthetic autotrophs (photolithotrophs ) utilize energy from light and are anaerobic organisms. The chemosynthetic autotrophs (chemolithotrophs) derive their energy from oxidation of inorganic materials like iron, sulphur, ammonia and nitrite.