While many autotrophs perform photosynthesis, __________ use respiration.

Question

Fill in the blank -

A: Only autotrophs

B: Only Heterotrophs

C: Both autotrophs and heterotrophs

Answer 1

C. Both autotrophs and heterotrophs.

Whether an organism is classified as an autotroph or a heterotroph is dependent only on how the organism acquires nutrients; respiration is unrelated. An autotroph creates its own nutrients whereas an heterotroph gains them by eating other organisms. After they have each come into possession of nutrients, they must use cellular respiration in order to break down sugars and turn the results into ATP.