chemotroph

(noun)

an organism that obtains energy by the oxidation of electron-donating molecules in the environment

Related Terms

Examples of chemotroph in the following topics:

  • Chemoautotrophs and Chemoheterotrophs

    • Chemotrophs are a class of organisms that obtain their energy through the oxidation of inorganic molecules, such as iron and magnesium.
    • The most common type of chemotrophic organisms are prokaryotic and include both bacteria and fungi.
    • The ability of chemotrophs to produce their own organic or carbon-containing molecules differentiates these organisms into two different classifications--chemoautotrophs and chemoheterotrophs .
    • Chemoheterotrophs are the most abundant type of chemotrophic organisms and include most bacteria, fungi and protozoa.

  • The Energetics of Chemolithotrophy

    • Chemotrophs are organisms that obtain energy through the oxidation of electron donors in their environments.
    • The chemotroph designation is in contrast to phototrophs, which utilize solar energy.
    • Chemotrophs can be either autotrophic or heterotrophic.

  • Photoautotrophs and Photoheterotrophs

    • In an ecological context, they provide nutrition for all other forms of life (besides other autotrophs such as chemotrophs).
    • They can be contrasted with chemotrophs that obtain their energy by the oxidation of electron donors in their environments.

  • Carboxysomes

    • These organelles are found in all cyanobacteria and many chemotrophic bacteria that fix carbon dioxide.
    • These structures were named polyhedral bodies in 1961; over the next few years they were also discovered in some chemotrophic bacteria that fixed carbon dioxide.

  • The 3-Hydroxypropionate Cycle

    • To date, this pathway has been identified in organisms classified as green non sulfur bacteria, specifically Chloroflexus aurantiacus () and in chemotrophic archaea.

  • Energy and Nutrient Requirements for Prokaryotes

    • Chemotrophs (or chemosynthetic organisms) obtain their energy from chemical compounds.
    • Chemotrophs that can use organic compounds as energy sources are called chemoorganotrophs.

  • Deinococcus and Thermus

    • This bacterium is a chemotroph — it performs chemosynthesis to obtain food.

  • Nongenetic Categories for Medicine and Ecology

    • Chemotrophs: obtain their energy by the oxidation of electron donors in their environments.