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what is heterotroph? name various types of heterotroph, along with some relevant text.
 Organisms must make use of food that comes from other organisms in the form of fats, carbohydrates and proteins. These organisms which feed on others are called heterotrophs.


4 types of heterotrophs:


consumer           trophic level         food source        

Herbivores         primary               plants             

Carnivores         secondary or higher   animals            

Omnivores          all levels            plants & animals   

Detritivores       ---------------       detritus           



A trophic level refers to the organisms position in the food chain. Autotrophs are at the base. Organisms that eat autotrophs are called herbivores or primary consumers. An organism that eats herbivores is a carnivore and a secondary consumer. A carnivore which eats a carnivore which eats a herbivore is a tertiary consumer, and so on. It is important to note that many animals do not specialize in their diets. Omnivores (such as humans) eat both animals and plants. Further, except for some specialists, most carnivores don't limit their diet to organisms of only one trophic level.





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