Autotrophic organisms: features of structure and vital activity

Autotrophic organisms are able to independently generate energy for the implementation of all life processes. How do they carry out these transformations? What are the conditions for this? Let's find out.

Autotrophic organisms

In the translation from the Greek language "auto" means "myself", and "trofos" means "food". In other words, autotrophic organisms receive energy from the chemical processes that take place in their organisms. Unlike heterotrophs, which feed only on finished organic substances.

Most representatives of the organic world belong to the second group. Animals, fungi, most bacteria are heterotrophs. Plant organisms independently produce organic substances. Viruses are also a separate kingdom of nature. But of all the signs of living organisms, they are only capable of reproducing themselves through self-assembly. And, being outside the host organism, the viruses are absolutely harmless and show no sign of life.

Plants

To autotrophic organisms are primarily vegetable. This is their main distinguishing feature. Organic substances, in particular monosaccharide glucose, they form in the process of photosynthesis. It occurs in plant cells, in specialized organelles, which are called chloroplasts. These are two-membrane plastids containing a green pigment. The conditions for the passage of photosynthesis are also the presence of sunlight, water and carbon dioxide.

The essence of photosynthesis

Carbon dioxide enters the green cells through special formations - the stomata. They consist of two valves, which open to carry out this process. Through them, and there is a gas exchange: carbon dioxide enters the cell, and oxygen, formed during photosynthesis, into the environment. In addition to this gas, which is one of the necessary conditions of life, plants form glucose. They use it as a food product for growth and development.

Simultaneously with the process of photosynthesis, plants breathe continuously. How can these two opposite processes occur simultaneously? It's simple. The process of breathing is less intense than photosynthesis. Therefore, plants produce more oxygen than carbon dioxide. However, for a long time in a dark room with a large number of plants, it will be difficult to breathe. The fact is that the amount of oxygen will decrease, and carbon dioxide, on the contrary, will increase.

In general, photosynthetic organisms are of planetary importance. Thanks to them, there is life on the planet Earth. And these are not loud words. After all, life without oxygen is impossible.

Bacteria

Autotrophic organisms are bacteria. And we are not talking about blue-green algae containing green pigment chlorophyll in cells.

There is a special group of organisms - hemotrophs. They split complex organic compounds to simple ones, which can be assimilated by plants. When the chemical bonds are destroyed, a certain amount of energy is released, which the chemotrophs use for their vital functions. These include nitrogen fixing, iron and sulfur bacteria. For example, ammonia these organisms oxidize to nitrites - salts of nitrous acid, sulfur compounds - to salts of sulfuric acid, sulfates.

But most often among bacteria there is a variety of heterotrophic organisms - saprotrophs. For food they use the remains of dead organisms or products of their vital functions. This bacteria is putrefaction and fermentation.

It is interesting that in nature there are no substances that bacteria could not split.

Autotrophic organisms are not always capable of forming organic substances. After all, very often in nature, the habitat conditions of organisms change. Then these processes become simply impossible. Autotrophs in the process of evolution have adapted to this in their own way. For example, the unicellular animal euglena green during an unfavorable period is able to feed on ready organic substances. And when the habitat conditions are normalized, it goes back to photosynthesis. Such organisms are called mixotrophs.

Autotrophic organisms play an important role in nature, providing the conditions of existence for all other kingdoms of living nature.