Question

Do you think the spotted salamander and Elysia chlorotica completely meet the autotroph definition? Explain your response.

Answer 1

No

Step-by-step explanation:

The spotted salamander and Elysia chlorotica must eat algae, or have algae in their bodies, to benefit from photosynthesis. They require a partnership with an autotrophic organism to have this ability. So, they don’t completely meet the definition of an autotroph.

Answer 2

No

Step-by-step explanation:

An autotroph is an organism that manufactures its own food all by itself. They take inorganic materials from the environment and produce organic substance which they rely on. There are two special categories of autotrophs which are: chemoautotrophs and photoautotrophs.

• Spotted Salamander and Elysia chlorotica do not fit into the definition of an autotroph.

• Elysia chlorotica despite having chlorophyll feeds on inter-tidal algae. It doest not produce its own food.
• This can also be said of the spotted salamander which feeds extensively on insect. They are insectivorous.
• Therefore, we see that both organisms flout the condition to be autotrophs.