What are the similarities between autotophs and heterotrophs?

Answer 1

An autotroph creates its own food/energy source, typically through photosynthesis. Heterotrophs rely upon outside sources for food/energy. The lowest level of heterotrophs are herbivores, or plant (aka autotrophs) eaters. Progressing up the food chain there are also carnivores (meat - aka other heterotrophs - eaters) and omnivores (will eat both plants and animals). The relationship from the heterotrophs side is fairly simple and easy to see - autotrophs are a food/energy source. The flipside, is that the heterotrophs, through bodily waste and other decaying matter, leave the minerals and nutrients that the autotrophs require to complete the photosynthetic process. In essence, the relationship is cyclical.

Answer 2

you cannot say that there are similarities in autotrophs and heterotrophs. the only similarity is that they are living organisms.but there are more dissimilarities between autotrophs and heterotrophs.