Sem 3 Nutrition in Microbes

Difference Between Phototrophs and Chemotrophs

Definition

Phototrophs: The organisms which capture proton in order to acquire energy are known as phototrophs.

Chemotrophs: The organisms which obtain their energy by oxidizing electron donors are known as chemotrophs.

Energy Source

Phototrophs: The energy source of phototrophs is mainly sunlight.

Chemotrophs: The energy source of the chemotrophs is the oxidizing energy of chemical compounds.

Types

Phototrophs: Phototropes are either photoautotrophs or photoheterotrophs.

Chemotrophs: Chemotrophs are either chemoorganotrophs or chemolithotrophs.

Examples

Phototrophs: Plants, algae, cyanobacteria are photoautotrophs, and purple non-sulfur bacteria, green non-sulfur bacteria, and heliobacteria are photoheterotrophs

Chemotrophs: Most bacteria like Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans, Nitrosomonas, Nitrobacter and Algae are chemolithotrophs.

Conclusion

Both phototrophs and chemotrophs are two nutritional groups found in the environment. Both of them are found in autotrophic and heterotrophic forms. Thus, their autotrophs produce their own food while their heterotrophs consume other organisms’ food. They can be also found in primary and secondary levels of the food chain. The main difference between phototrophs and chemotrophs is their energy source.