Energy Transfer Types

Autotrophs

Autotrpohs are organims that store chemical energy within carbohydrate food molecules that are built by themselves.However, autotrophs aren't fully self-suffiencent; they are self-feeders in the sense that they supply themselves with food wiothout consuming or decomposingtoher organisms. Food provides energy for carbon to build and construct bodies aswell as provide energy to do work. A majority of autotrophs transforms sunlight to produce food (glucose) in a process called photosynthesis. During photosynthesis absorbed light energy is used in the process of carbon dioxide from the air and aswell as water from the ground to produce glucose. Autotrophs generate food for their own personal use; however, they produce enogh food to support other organims aswell.

This is a Multiflora Rose (Rosa Multiflora) a type of flower which, like all other flowers is autotrophic. The leaves of the Multiflora Rose contain Chlorophyll (which makes the leaves green) Which is used to transfer sunlight to food. When the plant has gained energy from food it sprouts the white flowers shown.

Decomposers

Decomposers are organisms who take in energy by feeding off of other organisms who are already dead. Decomposers will usually gather around animal or plant remains and feed off of it to gain nutrients. They obtain energy from breaking down the dead matter and recycle it back into the ecosystem. Decomposers produce chemicals which are healthy for the soil and make it fertile such as Nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium.

This is a reishi mushroom, the reishi grows on trees which are dead and rotting. The Mushroom eats and gains energy off of the rotting matter of the dead tree. The mushroom gains energy and carbon found in the tree through cell respiration where the cell absorbs the ATP (energy) through the mitochondria and processes it so the organism can use it.

Heterotrophs

Heterotrophs are a type of organism which sustains off of other living organisms because it cannot synthesize carbon on its own. Heterotrophic organisms gain energy from consuming carbohydrates which can be found in other organisms. All animals are heterotrophic because they gain energy from eating plants or other animals. The Heterotrophs obtain energy through the process of Cell Respiration. This is the process of the organism’s cells obtaining ATP (or energy) through the carbohydrates found in the organism’s food (other organisms). The carbohydrates are absorbed by the mitochondria in the cell and converted to ATP which is the main form of energy used by all living organisms.

This is an eastern ribbon snake. The ribbon snake feeds on small rodents such as mice, rats, etc. The snake's body cannot produce complex sugars on its own so it must rely on the consumption of other organisms. When the snake eats a smaller organism the mitochondria in the cells convert the carbohydrates in the organism into ATP (energy) which the snake's body uses.