When it comes to autotrophs, there are a lot of them out there. 2 . The algae are autotrophic protists that can be unicellular or multicellular. • Photoautotrophs include plants, eukaryotic algae and several groups of protists and several prokaryotes. characteristics of Chlorophyta (green algae), Rhodophyta (red algae), and Phaeophyta (brown algae, a photosynthetic heterokont). Photoautotroph Definition. Cyanobacteria resemble the eukaryotic algae in many ways, including morphological characteristics and ecological niches, and were at one time treated as algae, hence the common name of Green plants and photosynthetic bacteria are examples of photoautotrophs. _____ are eukaryotic autotrophs that float near the surface of water and are the basis of the food chain. The best-known group is the algae. There are several possible forms, these include unicellular, colonial and filamentous organisms. Autotroph Types and Examples. Photosynthetic organisms are divided into two broad groups according to the nature of the source of these electrons. Photosynthetic autotrophs, which make food using the energy in sunlight, include (a) plants, (b) algae, and (c) certain bacteria. For the most part, autotrophs often make their own food by using sunlight, carbon dioxide, and water to form sugars which they can use for energy. Algae are photosynthetic, and almost all protozoans are heterotrophic. Photoautotrophs are organisms that can make their own energy using light and carbon dioxide via the process of photosynthesis.The word photoautotroph is a combination of autotroph, the word for an organism that makes its own food, and the prefix photo-, which means “light”. Marine autotroph examples might spring to mind, like plankton, but even the flower growing in your backyard is an example of an autotroph. Learn about various types of autotrophs, including plants, autotrophic bacteria and algae. An autotroph is an organism that can produce its own food using light, water, carbon dioxide, or other chemicals.Because autotrophs produce their own food, they are sometimes called producers. (Concept 28.1) Zooplankton : Slime molds : Phytoplankton : … These organisms are found in the supergroups Chromalveolata (dinoflagellates, diatoms, golden algae, and brown algae) and Archaeplastida (red algae and green algae). Algae are a diverse group of aquatic organisms that have the ability to conduct photosynthesis. Autotrophic Protists - Algae There are many different types of algae that differ according to their body form, the type of photosynthetic pigments they use and variations in their flagella. Plants are the most familiar type of autotroph, but there are many different kinds of autotrophic organisms. One group includes the higher plants, eukaryotic algae, and the cyanobacteria (blue-green algae); these organisms contain the pigment chlorophyll a and use water as their electron source in reactions that generate oxygen. Autotrophs are important because they are a food source for heterotrophs (consumers). Algae, which live in water and whose larger forms are known as seaweed, is autotrophic. Only autotrophs can transform that ultimate, solar source into the chemical energy in food that powers life, as shown in Figure below. Photosynthesis provides over 99 percent of the energy for life on earth. Blue-green algae, any of a large, heterogeneous group of prokaryotic, principally photosynthetic organisms. An autotrophic protist is a type of single-celled organism that can create its own food. 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