Which process do heterotrophs primarily rely on for energy production?

Heterotrophs primarily rely on cellular respiration for energy production because they obtain their energy by consuming organic molecules, which are broken down during this metabolic process. Cellular respiration involves the conversion of glucose and oxygen into carbon dioxide, water, and energy in the form of adenosine triphosphate (ATP). This process is critical because it allows heterotrophs, such as animals and fungi, to extract energy from the food they eat.

Unlike photosynthesis, which is utilized by autotrophs like plants to convert sunlight into energy, heterotrophs do not have the ability to produce their own food. Instead, they must intake organic matter, which is then utilized in cellular respiration to release the energy stored within those molecules. While fermentation is another process that can produce energy under anaerobic conditions, cellular respiration is the primary method for energy production in most heterotrophs. Transpiration, on the other hand, is a process related to water movement in plants and does not apply to the energy needs of heterotrophic organisms.