Final answer:
Autotrophs obtain energy directly from the sun, while heterotrophs rely on consuming other organisms for energy.
Explanation:
Autotrophs are organisms that obtain energy directly from the sun or chemical bonds to produce organic compounds from simple inorganic molecules. They are crucial to ecosystems as they are the only ones capable of producing organic molecules from inorganic ones. In contrast, heterotrophs rely on consuming other organisms for energy and carbon as they cannot perform photosynthesis.
For example, plants are autotrophs because they use sunlight to create their food, while animals like humans are heterotrophs that obtain energy by consuming plants or other animals.
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