The processes by which organisms use simple inorganic substances such as gaseous or dissolved carbon dioxide and inorganic nitrogen as nutrient sources. Contrasts with heterotrophic processes which make use of organic materials as the nutrient supply source. Autotrophs can be either chemoautotrophs (or chemolithotrophs), largely ARCHAEA and BACTERIA, which also use simple inorganic substances for their metabolic energy reguirements; or photoautotrophs (or photolithotrophs), such as PLANTS and CYANOBACTERIA, which derive their energy from light. Depending on environmental conditions some organisms can switch between different nutritional modes (autotrophy; HETEROTROPHY; chemotrophy; or PHOTOTROPHY) to utilize different sources to meet their nutrient and energy requirements.

Descriptor ID	D052818
MeSH Number(s)	G02.111.071 G03.087
Concept/Terms	Autotrophic Processes Autotrophic Processes Processes, Autotrophic Lithotrophic Processes Processes, Lithotrophic Autotrophy Autotrophy Lithotrophy Autotrophic Growth Autotrophic Growth Growth, Autotrophic Lithotrophic Growth Growth, Lithotrophic

Below are MeSH descriptors whose meaning is more general than "Autotrophic Processes".

Below are MeSH descriptors whose meaning is related to "Autotrophic Processes".

Below are MeSH descriptors whose meaning is more specific than "Autotrophic Processes".