Biology 2483A Lecture Notes - Succulent Plant, Lithotroph, Stoma

• School: Western University
• Department: Biology
• Course: Biology 2483A
• Professor: Hugh Henry

Document Summary

Autotrophs are organisms that assimilate radiant energy from sunlight (photosynthesis), or from inorganic compounds (chemosynthesis). This energy is then converted into chemical energy stored in the bonds of organic molecules. Heterotrophs obtain their energy by consuming organic compounds from other organisms. This energy originated with organic compounds synthesized by autotrophs. Some heterotrophs consume non-living organic matter and are known as detritivores or decomposers. Parasites and herbivores consume live hosts, but do not necessarily kill them. Some plants are holoparasites they have no photosynthetic pigments and get energy from other plants (heterotrophs). the dodder plant is a holoparasite that is an agricultural pest and can significantly reduce biomass in the host plant. Mistletoe is an example of a hemiparasite it is photosynthetic, but obtains nutrients, water, and some of its energy from the host plant. Certain sea slugs have functional chloroplasts that are taken up from the algae that they eat and enable them to capture and store energy from the sun.