heterotroof

Heterotroof is not a standard term in biology. It appears to be a misspelling or informal variant of heterotroph or heterotrophy. In most scientific contexts, the intended concept is heterotroph or heterotrophy, and if encountered, the term should be read in that light.

A heterotroph is an organism that cannot synthesize all required organic compounds from inorganic sources and must obtain carbon by consuming preformed organic molecules. Most heterotrophs also derive energy from organic compounds, classed as chemoheterotrophs; a subset called photoheterotrophs uses light for energy while still relying on organic carbon.

Common examples include animals, fungi, and many bacteria and protists. In archaea and some bacteria, heterotrophy overlaps with additional metabolic modes such as fermentation or respiration.

Ecologically, heterotrophs drive decomposition, nutrient cycling, and energy transfer within ecosystems. They form diverse interactions with autotrophs and other heterotrophs, including parasitism, predation, and mutualism.

Note on usage: If you meant heterotroph or heterotrophy, those are the standard terms. Heterotroof does not appear in formal taxonomy or metabolism references.

See also

- heterotroph

- heterotrophy

- photoheterotroph

- chemoheterotroph

- autotroph