Organotrophic

Okay, kiddo, so you know how we all need food to grow and stay healthy, right? Well, it's the same thing for tiny living things like bacteria, fungi, and certain protozoa. They need to eat too, but instead of grabbing a sandwich or apple, they munch on something called organic matter. This is where the word "organotrophic" comes in – it means these little guys get their energy by breaking down and using organic matter that they find in their environment.

Now, organic matter is basically stuff that used to be alive or came from something alive, like dead leaves, poop, or even oil spills. It's full of carbon, hydrogen, and other elements that these tiny living things can use to fuel their own growth and reproduction. When they break down organic matter, they release energy that they can use to carry out all the things they need to do to survive.

So, organotrophy is just one way that living things can get the energy they need to live and do their thing. It's kind of like how you need food to play and run around – these little guys need organic matter to do their own tiny jobs in the world.