Chemo Trophs

1.
So I will further discuss about the other classification which is the chemotroph
2. Chemotrophs are a class of organisms that obtain their energy through the oxidation of inorganic
molecules, such as iron and magnesium.
Feeding Method: Chemotrophs uses chemical reactions for energy
The most common type of chemotrophic organisms are prokaryotic and include both bacteria and
fungi.
All of these organisms require carbon to survive and reproduce.
The ability of chemotrophs to produce their own organic or carbon-containing molecules
differentiates these organisms into two different classifications:
Chemoautotrophs and chemo heterotrophs
3. Chemoautotrophs are organisms which are able to synthesize their own organic molecules from the
fixation of carbon dioxide.
Feeding Method: Chemoautotrophs uses energy from chemical reactions (inorganic) / carbon from
atmosphere
These organisms are able to produce their own source of food, or energy.
The energy required for this process comes from the oxidation of inorganic molecules such as iron,
sulfur or magnesium.
4. Chemoautotrophs are able to thrive in very harsh environments, such as deep sea vents, due to their
lack of dependence on outside sources of carbon other than carbon dioxide.
5. Chemoautotrophs include nitrogen fixing bacteria located in the soil, iron oxidizing bacteria located
in the lava beds, and sulfur oxidizing bacteria located in deep sea thermal vents.
NOTES: Chemoautotrophs also referred to as chemolithotrophs. It can be bacteria but are mostly
archea (single celled microorganism). Scientists believed chemoautotrophs were the first
organisms on earth which produced oxygen as a by product.
Chemoautotrophs energy from oxidizing inorganic substances and carbon from carbon dioxide
some get energy from chemosynthesis (metabolizing sulfur in hot springs) other energy sources:
oxidize ammonia (form nitrate ions), oxidize hydrogen gas, hydrogen sulfide, sulfur, and more.
Food Source: It uses their energy sources to form the necessary nutrients the individual bacteria
or archae need to survive. ex. using the inorganic substance hydrogen sulfide for food.
Where are they found: Chemoautotrophs include types of bacteria and archaea. Most live in
hostile habitats like geysers, hot springs (very hot!)
6. Chemoheterotrophs, unlike chemoautotrophs, are unable to synthesize their own organic molecules.
Feeding Method: Chemoheterotrophs uses energy from organic compounds / carbon from organic
compounds
7. Instead, these organisms must ingest preformed carbon molecules, such as carbohydrates and lipids,
synthesized by other organisms.
They do, however, still obtain energy from the oxidation of inorganic molecules like the
chemoautotrophs.
8. Chemoheterotrophs are only able to thrive in environments that are capable of sustaining other forms
of life due to their dependence on these organisms for carbon sources.
9. Chemoheterotrophs are the most abundant type of chemotrophic organisms and include most
bacteria, fungi and protozoa.
NOTES: Most chemoheterotrophs are bacteria and unicellar but chemoheterotrophs can be
multicellular too, though, because humans are considered as chemoheterotrophs. All fungi are
considered as chemoheterotrophs
10. They may be further classified as chemo-lithoheterotrophs or chemo-organoheterotrophs.

Chemo-lithoheterotrophs are those that utilize inorganic energy sources whereas chemo-
organoheterotrophs are those using organic energy sources.
11. There are three main categories that differ in how chemohetrotrophs obtain their organic nutrients:
(i) Saprophytic bacteria.
(ii) Parasitic bacteria.
(iii) Symbiotic bacteria.
12. Saprophytic bacteria

Saprophytic bacteria obtain their food from the dead and organic decaying matter such as leaves,
fruits, vegetables, meat, animal feces, leather, humus etc.
These bacteria secrete enzymes to digest the food and absorb it.
The enzymes secreted to break down the complex compounds such as carbohydrate and protein, into
simpler soluble compounds, which are easily absorbed.
Examples are Bacillus mycoides, B. ramosus, Acetobacter etc.
Parasitic bacteria
These bacteria obtain their nutrition from the tissues of the hosts on which they grow.
They may be harmless or may cause serious diseases.
Parasitic bacteria which cause various diseases in plants and animals are known as pathogens,
e.g., Bacillus typhosus, B. anthracis, B.tetani. B.diplheriae, B.tuberculosis, B. pneumoniae,
Vibrio cholerae, Pseudomonas citri etc.
Symbiotic bacteria
Symbiotic bacteria live in close association with other organisms as symbionts.
They are beneficial to the organisms.
The common examples are the nitrogen-fixing bacteria, e.g., Bacillus radicicola, B. azotobacter,
Rhizobium, Clostridium, Rhizobium spp., B. radicicolaand B. azotobacter.
These bacteria live inside the roots of leguminous plants.
These bacteria fix free atmospheric nitrogen into nitrogenous compounds which are utilized by the
plants. In return, the plant provides nutrients and protection to the bacteria.

Chemo Trophs

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10. They may be further classified as chemo-lithoheterotrophs or chemo-organoheterotrophs.

12. Saprophytic bacteria

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