Autotrophic organism refers to a kind of metabolic organism that can directly convert inorganic substances ingested from the external environment into organic substances and store energy during assimilation. The components of autotrophs in the ecosystem belong to producers, such as green plants, cyanobacteria and nitrifying bacteria.

Heterotrophs: Compared with autotrophs, in the process of assimilation, organisms can only absorb ready-made organic matter from the outside as their own components and energy sources. They belong to consumers and decomposers in the ecosystem, such as animals, most bacteria and fungi.