Question

Algae are autotrophic. Which of the following statements can be related to autotrophs?
A) Autotrophs prepare their own food
B) Autotrophs depends on others for their food
C) Autotrophs are insectivores
D) None of these

Answer 1

Hint: Algae are the plants that are found both in fresh water and in marine water. They are the rich source of energy for other organisms that are present inside the water or sometimes for the ones on the land. They are rightly said to be autotrophs as they are a rich source for other organisms.

Complete answer:
Algae are chlorophyll-bearing, simple, thalloid, autotrophic and largely aquatic organisms. One can find them in a variety of other habitats such as moist stones, soils and wood. We can find algae in different forms and sizes. They are useful to humans in many ways. The carbon dioxide that is present in the air for the process of photosynthesis, at least half of it is fixed by algae. Being photosynthetic they increase the level of dissolved oxygen in their immediate environment.

Algae are referred to as autotrophs is a true statement. The autotrophs or we can say primary producers are those organisms that produce complex organic compounds by using carbon from the carbon dioxide, generally using energy from light or inorganic chemical reactions. They convert the light energy to form organic molecules which are commonly called food.

The food that is made is generally an accumulation of biomass and it will be used as carbon and energy through the process of photosynthesis. They are the primary producer that produces food for the other organisms. They are the main source of energy for the other organisms or the secondary products which include all kinds of organisms like carnivores, insectivores, scavengers etc.

Note: The term autotrophs was coined by the German botanist Albert Bernhard Frank in the year 1892. The first autotrophic organisms were developed around 2 billion years ago. The process of photosynthesis plays a major role in the evolution of phototrophs from heterotrophic bacteria.