themselves entirely on atmospheric CO₂ and inorganic chemicals without the need for light or organic compounds. They enzymatically catalyze redox reactions using mineral substrates to generate ATP energy. These substrates primarily include hydrogen, iron, nitrogen, and sulfur. Its ecological niche is often specialized to extreme environments, including deep marine hydrothermal vents, stratified sediment, and acidic hot springs.

History

The term autotroph was coined by the German botanist Albert Bernhard Frank

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