heterotrophy

Paramecia live mainly by heterotrophy, feeding on bacteria and other small organisms.

Other microbes, living in sediments, may utilise available organic compounds (heterotrophy).

Historically, many rhizarians were considered animals, with their motility and heterotrophy as justification.

Like all fungi, molds derive energy not through photosynthesis but from the organic matter on which they live, utilising heterotrophy.

There are several nutritional strategies in dinoflagellates: phototrophy, mixotrophy and heterotrophy.

The carbon source for these organisms can be carbon dioxide (autotrophy) or organic carbon (heterotrophy).

Facultative mixotrophs, in which autotrophy or heterotrophy is sufficient for nutrition, are classified as amphitrophic.

Some species however contain endo-symbiotic algae and are therefore mixotrophic, i.e. combining autotrophy and heterotrophy,.

Mixotrophs will take up and utilise organic material to complement their carbon dioxide fixation source (mix between autotrophy and heterotrophy).

Psychrophiles use a wide variety of metabolic pathways, including photosynthesis, chemoautotrophy (also sometimes known as lithotrophy), and heterotrophy, and form robust, diverse communities.

Possible alternations are between photo- and chemotrophy, between litho- and organotrophy, between auto- and heterotrophy or a combination of it.