What is an What is an heterotrophic organism?
“Heterotroph” is a noun; you are a heterotroph. “Heterotrophic” is an adjective; you are a heterotrophic organism. Heterotrophs are organisms that obtain energy by consuming complex organic materials (HETERO=other, TROPH=food). Fungi are heterotrophs because they have to take in complex materials (not being able to photosynthesize, they can’t make their own food like plants can). They do this by producing enzymes that break down the materials on which they’re growing and absorbing them. Specifically, fungi are saprophytes (google this).
