What is a heterotrophic mushroom?

Answer 1

Heterotrophic mushrooms are mushrooms that are heterotrophs.

Heterotrophs are organisms that acquire their food from the bodies of other organisms. Anything that eats anything else is a heterotroph.

Heterotrophic mushrooms digest decomposing organisms such as dead trees. If a mushroom were not heterotrophic, it would create its own energy from an abiotic source, such as sunlight or chemicals. (e.g. Plants are autotrophs because they feed through photosynthesis.)

Answer 2

A heterotrophic mushroom is a type of fungus that obtains its nutrients by breaking down organic matter in its environment. This is in contrast to autotrophic organisms, which can produce their own food through processes like photosynthesis. Mushrooms play an important role in nutrient recycling in ecosystems by decomposing dead plant material.