Why plants are called autotrophs?

The term “autotroph” is taken from the root words “auto” for “self” and “troph” for “food” or ‘nourishment’.

Autotrophs are those organisms that can produce their own food by the process of photosynthesis and plants are the best example of autotrophs because they can do photosynthesis.

Photosynthesis is a process by which plants make their own food in the presence of sunlight, carbon dioxide, water, minerals, and chlorophyll present in leaves.

Autotrophs are divided into two parts:-

1. Photoautotrophs- the word has three parts: photo- light, auto-self, trophs- nourishment refers to those

organisms that get the energy to make organic materials from sunlight. 

Examples of photoautotrophs include all plants, green algae, and bacteria that perform photosynthesis.

2. Chemoautotrophs- the word has three parts chemo-chemical, auto-self, trophs-nourishment refers to those organisms that obtain energy from inorganic chemical processes.

Examples of chemoautotrophs include Cyanobacteria, Seaweed, Phytoplankton.