Final answer:
Protists in the kingdom Protista can be either autotrophs, synthesizing their own food from inorganic sources, or heterotrophs, obtaining carbon from other organisms. The specific nutritional strategy of a protist will determine its classification.
Step-by-step explanation:
The organism in question belongs to the kingdom Protista, which is characterized by a wide range of nutritional strategies and can include both autotrophs and heterotrophs. To determine whether a specific protist is an autotroph or a heterotroph, you need to look at how it obtains its carbon. If it synthesizes its own food from inorganic substances, it is considered an autotroph. Many autotrophic protists do this through photosynthesis, using chloroplasts to convert light energy into chemical energy. On the other hand, if the protist obtains its carbon from other organisms—by consuming them or their byproducts—it is classified as a heterotroph. Some heterotrophic protists may employ phagocytosis to ingest food particles.
Notably, some protists exhibit mixotrophy, displaying characteristics of both autotrophs and heterotrophs.