Mixotroph

Flowchart to determine if a species is autotroph, heterotroph, or a subtype

A mixotroph is an organism that can use a mix of different sources of energy and carbon. Usually this means that it may be either autotroph or heterotroph at different times in its life. Also possible are alternations between photo- and chemotrophy, or between litho- and organotrophy. Mixotrophs can be either eukaryotes or prokaryotes.^[1]

Mixotroph Media

A mixotrophic plant using mycorrhizal fungi to obtain photosynthesis products from other plants
Traditional classification of mixotrophic protists In this diagram, types in open boxes as proposed by Stoecker have been aligned against groups in grey boxes as proposed by Jones. DIN = dissolved inorganic nutrients
Acantharian radiolarian hosts Phaeocystis symbionts
White Phaeocystis algal foam washing up on a beach
A single-celled ciliate with green zoochlorellae living inside endosymbiotically
Euglena mutabilis, a photosynthetic flagellate
Typical euglenoid movement (metaboly) Picture courtesy of Rogelio Moreno.
Fluorescent micrograph of an acantharian with Phaeocystis symbionts fluorescing red (chlorophyll)

References

↑ Eiler, Alexander 2006. Evidence for the ubiquity of mixotrophic bacteria in the upper ocean: implications and consequences Appl Environ Microbiol 72: 7431–7437; doi: 10.1128/AEM.01559-06.

[1] Eiler, Alexander 2006. Evidence for the ubiquity of mixotrophic bacteria in the upper ocean: implications and consequences Appl Environ Microbiol 72: 7431–7437; doi: 10.1128/AEM.01559-06.

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