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CH3041
METABOLIC CLASSIFICATIONS
Metabolic Classification of MicroOrganisms
Carbon Source Energy Source Electron Donor
Inorganic Organic Light Chemical     Inorganic Organic
Autotroph                Phototroph            Lithotroph
           Heterotroph          Chemotroph            Organotroph
                                                    (eg. 2O2- ® O2 + 4e-)
A few important examples
Phytoplankton                   Nitrifier bacteria       Fungi
CO2, H2O           CO2, NH4+              Protozoa
                                                                         Most bacteria
Green & purple                Colourless          {CH2O}, {CH2O}
sulphur bacteria              sulphur bacteria
CO2, H2S                           CO2,         H2S
Chiefly CO2 as                  Chiefly O2 as           Any oxidant
 oxidant ®  {CH2O}          oxidant          (eg. O2 + 4e- ® 2O2-)
Phytoplankton are a diverse group, incorporating algae eukaryotes and both eubacterial and archaebacterial prokaryotes.