Which term describes organisms that fix CO2 into organic matter?

Prepare for the Microbial Metabolism Test. Utilize flashcards and multiple choice questions with helpful hints and detailed explanations. Ace your test with ease!

Autotrophs are organisms that fix CO2 into organic matter, using energy from light or from inorganic chemical reactions to build biomass from inorganic carbon. This makes them the primary producers in many ecosystems, converting carbon from an inorganic form into the organic compounds that other organisms rely on. Heterotrophs rely on preformed organic carbon obtained from the environment. Chemoorganotrophs obtain energy from chemical reactions but still use organic carbon rather than fixing CO2. Photoheterotrophs use light for energy but also rely on organic carbon, not CO2 fixation. So the group that fixes CO2 into organic matter is autotrophs.