Autotrophs: Examples include plants

Autotrophs examples include plants, algae, and certain bacteria . Autotrophs play a vital role in the carbon cycle, producing oxygen as a byproduct of photosynthesis and serving as primary producers in food chains. What are examples of autotrophs and how do they produce their own food? Learn about different types of autotrophs in this guide by SSI Aeration, Inc. Autotrophs are organisms that produce organic compounds and oxygen from simple substances using energy from light or inorganic reactions. They are the primary producers in food chains and support all life on Earth. Learn about the history, variants, and examples of autotrophs , and how they differ from heterotrophs. Autotrophs obtain energy and nutrients by harnessing sunlight through photosynthesis (photoautotrophs) or, more rarely, obtain chemical energy through oxidation (chemoautotrophs) to make organic substances from inorganic ones.