Question

Cyanobacteria can derive nutritional carbon molecules by consuming those from other organisms, or by producing them from inorganic carbon (atmospheric CO2) through photosynthesis. In which of the following ecological groups would they also be considered?

A) Heterotrophic only
B) Autotrophic only
C) Both heterotrophic and autotrophic
D) Neither heterotrophic nor autotrophic

Answer 1

Cyanobacteria are autotrophs that perform photosynthesis and use sunlight as their energy source.

Step-by-step explanation:

Cyanobacteria are capable of performing photosynthesis, using light to manufacture their own food. This makes them autotrophs, which are organisms that can synthesize their own food. Autotrophs can use either sunlight or inorganic compounds as an energy source, and cyanobacteria fall into the category of photoautotrophs because they use sunlight as their energy source. Therefore, cyanobacteria would be considered autotrophic only in terms of their ecological group.