Kemioheterotrofisia

Kemioheterotrofisia, also called chemoheterotrophy, is a metabolic strategy in which organisms obtain energy by chemical oxidation of organic compounds and acquire carbon from organic sources. They rely on organic molecules both for energy and as the carbon skeletons needed for growth.

Energy is derived from the oxidation of organic substrates such as sugars, amino acids, and lipids. Oxidation can occur through aerobic respiration with oxygen as the terminal electron acceptor, or through anaerobic respiration and fermentation when oxygen is limited. The specific pathways and efficiency vary among organisms and environmental conditions.

The carbon required for biosynthesis comes from organic molecules; kemioheterotrofisia organisms cannot fix atmospheric CO2. They depend on the organic carbon supplied by other organisms or the decomposition of organic matter in the environment.

Examples and ecological roles include animals, fungi, many bacteria, and some protists. In ecosystems, chemoheterotrophs function as consumers, decomposers, and sometimes as pathogens or symbionts. They can be obligate, requiring organic carbon exclusively, or facultative, capable of using alternative metabolic routes under different conditions.

Distinctions from related nutritional modes are clear: chemoheterotrophs contrast with chemoautotrophs, which obtain energy from chemical reactions but fix inorganic carbon from CO2, and with phototrophs, which harvest energy from light. Chemoheterotrophs can be aerobic or anaerobic, reflecting their adaptability to a range of environments.