Heterotrophs contrast with autotrophs, such as plants and algae, which can use energy from sunlight (photoautotrophs) or inorganic compounds (lithoautotrophs) to produce organic compounds such as carbohydrates, fats, and proteins from inorganic carbon dioxide.verview of cycle between autotrophs and heterotrophs. A heterotroph (/ˈhɛtərɵtroʊf/ ; ἕτερος heteros = another, different and τροφή trophe = nutrition) is an organism that cannot fix carbon and uses organic carbon for growth.