Final answer:
Heterotrophs are consumers that gain energy by eating other organisms and include animals, fungi, many protists, and bacteria. They rely on autotrophs for energy, as they do not have the ability to perform photosynthesis. Heterotrophs are classified by their diets into various groups like herbivores and carnivores.
Step-by-step explanation:
Heterotrophs, also known as consumers, are organisms that obtain their energy by consuming other living things. They cannot produce their own energy through photosynthesis and hence rely on other organisms for nourishment. The Greek roots 'hetero' (other) and 'troph' (feeder) describe their method of obtaining food. Heterotrophs include all animals, fungi, as well as many protists and bacteria. They can be further categorized based on their diet into herbivores, carnivores, omnivores, or decomposers. For instance, a deer is a herbivore, deriving energy from plants, while a carnivorous wolf obtains energy from eating herbivores like the deer.
It's important to understand that all heterotrophs ultimately rely on autotrophs, such as plants, algae, and certain bacteria, which can transform solar energy into chemical energy via photosynthesis. Without autotrophs, heterotrophs would not survive, as they form the beginning of food chains that sustain all life.