Final answer:
Organisms that derive energy from sunlight are referred to as photoautotrophs, which include plants, algae, and some bacteria. They perform photosynthesis, forming the base of most ecosystems and providing energy to heterotrophs. The correct option is option (D).
Step-by-step explanation:
Organisms that derive their energy from sunlight are referred to as photoautotrophs. These include plants, algae, and certain bacteria known as cyanobacteria. They use the process of photosynthesis to convert light energy into chemical energy stored in organic compounds. The energy captured through photosynthesis by photoautotrophs is essential for the survival of most ecosystems as they form the base of the food chain, supplying energy to a wide variety of other living organisms referred to as heterotrophs. Heterotrophs rely on consuming other organisms for energy, rather than producing it themselves. On the other hand, chemoautotrophs are autotrophs that use energy from inorganic chemical compounds to make organic materials.