photoheterotroph

views updated May 21 2018

photoheterotroph Any organism that uses energy derived from the sun to manufacture organic compounds from organic precursors in photosynthesis. For example, under certain conditions some purple sulphur bacteria use organic acids (rather than hydrogen sulphide) as a source of hydrogen. See phototroph.

photoheterotroph

views updated May 23 2018

photoheterotroph A phototroph that uses organic compounds as its main or sole source of carbon.