Talk:Chemotroph

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problem with chart[edit]

Shouldn't that chart say Chemoheterotrophs receive their energy from organic (not inorganic) molecules. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 72.65.170.104 (talk) 08:03, 20 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

I agree that the chart could be improved.

Ideally, it would cover all 6 combinations of carbon source and energy source -- carbon source (a) entirely from CO2, or (b) from some other organism -- and energy source (c) from light, (d) from inorganic chemicals, or (e) from organic chemicals.

<carbon entirely from CO2?> yes: it's an autotroph. More specifically:
- <energy from light?> Yes: photoautotroph (plants, algae, some bacteria)
- <energy from inorganic oxidation?> Yes: Chemoautotroph (some bacteria or archaea)
- <energy from organic oxidation, producing CO2?> Yes: I suppose this would be a chemoorganoautotroph, but as far as I know there are no such creatures.

<carbon entirely from CO2?> no: it's a heterotroph. More specifically:
- <energy from light?> Yes: photoheterotroph (some bacteria)
- No? it's some kind of chemoheterotroph. More specifically:
- <energy from inorganic oxidation?> Yes: chemolithoheterotrophs (some bacteria)
- <energy from organic oxidation, producing CO2?> Yes: chemoorganoheterotrophs (giant tube worms)

I see that an older version of the flowchart once had all 6 combinations listed, but they were labeled incorrectly.

Also, I would like this article to plainly state either

"Chickens are photoheterotrophs, because they cannot convert CO2 to organic molecules, and they indirectly get their energy from the sun via plants" or

"Chickens are chemoorganoheterotrophs, because because they cannot convert CO2 to organic molecules, and they get their energy from the organic molecules they eat".

--68.0.124.33 (talk) 21:05, 4 May 2010 (UTC)[reply]

Needs Examples[edit]

I just looked here for AP bio homework and there were none. chemohetero= E.coli and i think the two pages should be split, like the phototrophs are —Preceding unsigned comment added by 74.34.198.249 (talk) 19:37, 18 July 2009 (UTC)[reply]

Confused about Chemoautotrophs and their source of energy[edit]

"Chemoautotrophs use inorganic energy sources, such as hydrogen sulfide, elemental sulfur, ferrous iron, molecular hydrogen, and ammonia."

So what is their typical environment? If chemoautotrophs can't obtain energy from the sun I imagine they must exist in an environment that constantly provides them with new compounds that they can oxidize for energy. So if their environment can be a rock, for instance, the rock will eventually run out of compounds they can oxidize and they will run out of energy. Their source of energy must be linked to something that can provide them with a renewable source of compounds they can oxidize. It would be nice if the article was more clear on this because it leaves me scratching my head.

Correct. Chemotrophic bacteria either live next to something such as a hydrothermal vent, or produce spores to disperse when they run out of nutrients.TTTime05 (talk) 12:41, 16 September 2022 (UTC)[reply]

Electrotrophs[edit]

I am considering whether it is time to add Electroautotroph to the graphic? See articles Electrotroph and Electrolithoautotroph)

Or is it premature? Are the existence of Electroautotrophs sufficiently established to add to the chart?

Just as plants with chlorophyll use photosynthesis to convert energy from light into sugars needed for growth, other organisms - like animals - gain energy for the manufacture of sugars by taking electrons from substances in their surrounding environments - a process called chemosynthesis. Organisms that gain their energy this way are called chemotrophs, and those that get their electrons through oxidation of inorganic substances are called chemolithoautotrophs. Phototrophs and chemotrophs make up two interconnected ecosystems. We are investigating the possibility of a third type of ecosystem,” explains group leader Ryuhei Nakamura. “We call it the electro-ecosystem because microbial activity is sustained primarily by direct electrical current.” Source: bacteria's double life: living off both iron and electricity--Paleorthid (talk) 03:02, 9 December 2018 (UTC)[reply]

Merge with chemosynthesis?[edit]

It might be prudent. But both articles really need some improvements TTTime05 (talk) 12:37, 16 September 2022 (UTC)[reply]