Microorganisms can be categorized by the manner in which they obtain their carbon and energy

requirements. In this regard, bacteria, like all living things, require energy and nutrients in order to
facilitate the synthesis of their structural membranes and drive the biochemical processes they need to
survive. Some types of bacteria must consume pre-formed organic molecules to obtain energy, while
others can create their energy from inorganic sources. With energy sources as a basis, bacteria can be
classified according to phototrophs and chemotrophs. Phototrophs are microorganisms that use light as
a source of energy, which is done by absorbing said light into their photoreceptors and transforming it
into chemical energy. Chemotrophs, on the other hand, gain their energy from chemical compounds by
oxidizing the electron donors within their respective environmental niche.

In the context of microbes being classified according to their carbon requirements, autotrophic bacteria
are microorganisms that synthesize their nutritional requirements, which are derived from inorganic
sources such as H2O, C02, and H2S salts. Autotrophs are further divided into two subtypes, namely
photoautotrophs and chemoautotrophs. The main difference between the two is that photoautotrophs
have photosynthetic pigments enabling them to convert light energy into chemical energy, which
processes the CO2 in their environment into carbohydrates and the hydrogen donor (water) into
oxygen. Chemoautotrophs, however, do not require light and the photosynthetic pigments for their
nutrition. Instead, they derive their energy by oxidizing inorganic molecules such as sulfur or nitrite with
the help of the atmospheric oxygen around them.

On the other hand, heterotrophs obtain their food from organic substances, both living and dead. Thus,
they are mostly attributed to the pathogenic bacteria found in human beings, both flora and fauna alike.
Like autotrophs, heterotrophs are further subdivided into two distinct categories, with this being
photoheterotrophs who can utilize light energy but cannot use CO2 as their sole source of carbon, and
chemoheterotrophs who can obtain both carbon and energy from organic compounds such as
carbohydrates, lipids, and proteins.

The last category of microorganisms classified according to their nutritional requirements are those that
are distinguished by the manner that they obtain their source of electrons. A lithotroph is an organism
that uses inorganic molecules as a source of electrons, while an organotroph uses organic molecules for
the same purpose of electrons (reducing power) to drive their energy generating systems. Those able to
use an inorganic electron donor such as H2O, H2S, or ammonia are called lithotrophs, while those
requiring an organic molecule to fulfill the role are organotrophs. Most microorganisms are either
photolithotrophic autotrophs such as algae or chemo-organotrophic heterotrophs, which include most
bacteria. For the latter category, a single organic compound can often act as the provider of carbon,
energy, and reducing power. The substance used by chemotrophs as an energy source may be organic
(chemoorganotrophs) or inorganic (chemolithotrophs).
References:

Aryal, S. (2020, January 03). Classification of Bacteria on the basis of Nutrition: Basic Microbiology.
Retrieved September 09, 2020, from https://microbenotes.com/classification-of-bacteria-on-the-basis-
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Boundless. (n.d.). Boundless Microbiology. Retrieved September 09, 2020, from

https://courses.lumenlearning.com/boundless-microbiology/chapter/methods-of-classifying-and-
identifying-microorganisms/

Nutritional Categories. (n.d.). Retrieved September 09, 2020, from

http://www.scientistcindy.com/nutritional-categories.html