Which term describes an organism that makes its own food using light or chemical energy?

• A. Autotroph
• B. Heterotroph
• C. Consumer
• D. Decomposer

Answer: (A)

Autotrophs are organisms that synthesize their own organic matter from inorganic inputs. They harvest energy from the environment—either light energy through photosynthesis or chemical energy through chemosynthesis—and use that energy to convert carbon dioxide into sugars and other biomolecules. This ability to produce food from simple inorganic materials sets them apart from heterotrophs, which must obtain organic compounds by consuming other organisms, and from decomposers and typical consumers, which rely on already-made organic matter. In ecosystems, autotrophs serve as primary producers, providing the organic foundation that fuels all other life.