MeSH definition : The processes by which organisms utilize organic substances as their nutrient sources.
Contrasts with AUTOTROPHIC PROCESSES which make use of simple inorganic substances
as the nutrient supply source. Heterotrophs can be either chemoheterotrophs (or chemoorganotrophs)
which also require organic substances such as glucose for their primary metabolic
energy requirements, or photoheterotrophs (or photoorganotrophs) which derive their
primary energy requirements from light. Depending on environmental conditions some
organisms can switch between different nutritional modes (AUTOTROPHY; heterotrophy;
chemotrophy; or PHOTOTROPHY) to utilize different sources to meet their nutrients
and energy requirements.;
The processes by which organisms utilize organic substances as their nutrient sources.
Contrasts with AUTOTROPHIC PROCESSES which make use of simple inorganic substances
as the nutrient supply source. Heterotrophs can be either chemoheterotrophs (or chemoorganotrophs)
which also require organic substances such as glucose for their primary metabolic
energy requirements, or photoheterotrophs (or photoorganotrophs) which derive their
primary energy requirements from light. Depending on environmental conditions some
organisms can switch between different nutritional modes (AUTOTROPHY; heterotrophy;
chemotrophy; or PHOTOTROPHY) to utilize different sources to meet their nutrients
and energy requirements.
Allowable qualifiers