Phototroph

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Terrestrial and aquatic phototrophs: Plants grow on a fallen log floating in algae rich water.
Terrestrial and aquatic phototrophs: Plants grow on a fallen log floating in algae rich water.

Phototrophs (photo=light, troph=nourishment) or photoautotrophs (photo=light, auto=self, troph=nourishment) are organisms which carry out photosynthesis.

With the help of energy from sunlight carbon dioxide and water are converted into organic materials that can be used in cellular functions. Such a function can be for example respiration.