What are heterotrophs?

Heterotrophs are defined as organisms that obtain their food by consuming other living things, which is precisely what the correct answer indicates. Unlike autotrophs, which can produce their own food through processes like photosynthesis or chemosynthesis, heterotrophs depend on the organic compounds produced by other organisms for their nutrition. This includes a wide variety of life forms, from animals to fungi and many bacteria, all of which play pivotal roles in the ecosystem by breaking down complex organic materials and recycling nutrients within their environments.

The other alternatives describe different types of organisms or processes incorrectly. The first option refers to autotrophs, which are capable of synthesizing their own food from inorganic substances. The second option also describes autotrophs, specifically those that utilize photosynthesis to create their nutrition, as seen in plants and some bacteria. The fourth option implies a form of life that does not depend on food, which is not characteristic of heterotrophs; all known heterotrophs require energy sources derived from consuming other organisms.