What term describes an organism that makes its own food using sunlight or chemical energy?

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

Answer: (A)

Organisms that can make their own food using energy from sunlight or chemical reactions are autotrophs. They act as producers in ecosystems, turning light or chemical energy into organic matter like glucose. In plants and algae, photosynthesis uses sunlight, carbon dioxide, and water to produce glucose and release oxygen. Some bacteria near hydrothermal vents use chemosynthesis, deriving energy from inorganic chemicals to build organic compounds. This sets autotrophs apart from others that must obtain energy by consuming or decomposing other organisms—heterotrophs, which include animals (consumers) and decomposers. So, the term that describes an organism that makes its own food from sunlight or chemical energy is autotroph.