autotrofisia

Autotrofisia is a term used to describe autotrophy, the biological ability of organisms to synthesize organic matter from inorganic carbon sources such as carbon dioxide, using energy obtained from light or from inorganic chemical reactions. The word combines roots meaning self-nourishment and pertains to organisms that form the base of food webs by converting inorganic carbon into organic compounds.

Autotrophy occurs mainly in two forms. Photoautotrophy uses light energy to drive carbon fixation, as in plants, algae, and cyanobacteria, which perform photosynthesis and produce sugars that feed themselves and other organisms. Chemoautotrophy derives energy from the oxidation of inorganic substrates—such as hydrogen sulfide, ammonia, nitrite, or ferrous iron—allowing the fixation of CO2 even in the absence of light, a metabolism common among many bacteria and some archaea.

Carbon fixation in autotrophs relies on established biochemical pathways, most notably the Calvin cycle in many photoautotrophs and alternative routes like the reverse tricarboxylic acid cycle or other reductive pathways in chemoautotrophs. These pathways convert inorganic carbon into organic molecules necessary for growth and maintenance.

Ecologically, autotrophisia underpins primary production, supporting diverse ecosystems from terrestrial forests and freshwater bodies to oceanic phytoplankton communities and deep-sea vent systems. Autotrophs influence global carbon cycles and energy flow, shaping nutrient dynamics and habitat structure. Evolutionarily, autotrophy is ancient and diverse, with chemoautotrophies likely predating widespread photosynthesis in some environments. Organisms that rely on autotrophy are distinct from heterotrophs, which obtain organic carbon by consuming other organisms; some species are mixotrophic, combining both strategies under different conditions.

In summary, autotrofisia covers the set of metabolic strategies by which organisms fix inorganic carbon into organic matter, fueling life across Earth’s ecosystems.