Question

Phytoplankton includes photosynthetic bacteria that live in the open ocean. What type of organism is the underlined word?

Heterotroph

Predator

Autotroph

Zooplankton

Answer 1

• Phytoplanktons(aquatic plants) are autotrophs as they synthesize their own food via organic reactions. (For eg. Diatoms, algae)

• Heterotrophs are those organisms which cannot prepare their own food and thus depend upon the plant and animal matter for their nourishment. (For eg. Human beings, dog, fish, etc)
• Predators are those organisms that hunt several other organisms(prey) usually for deriving their food. (Carnivores such as lion, bear, the fox comes under the category of predators)
• Autotrophs have the ability to manufacture their own food by the process of photosynthesis which involves a series of biochemical reactions resulting in the formation of the food as end-product
• Zooplanktons are those aquatic animals which have heterotrophic mode of nutrition and therefore rely on phytoplankton for consuming the nutrition (Eg. Crustaceans)