Heterotrophic Processes

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.

Year introduced: 2007

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Tree Number(s): G02.111.375, G03.393

MeSH Unique ID: D052836

Entry Terms:

• Processes, Heterotrophic
• Heterotrophic Process
• Process, Heterotrophic
• Heterotrophy
• Heterotrophic Growth
• Growth, Heterotrophic

See Also:

• Nutritional Physiological Phenomena
• Phototrophic Processes
• Autotrophic Processes
• Chemoautotrophic Growth

All MeSH Categories
Phenomena and Processes Category
Chemical Phenomena
Biochemical Phenomena
Heterotrophic Processes

All MeSH Categories
Phenomena and Processes Category
Metabolism
Heterotrophic Processes