In this article, we’ll look at chemoautotroph examples in detail, along with images, so that you can learn more about them.

Chemoautotrophs examples include organisms belonging to the group of Methane Oxidizers, Nitrifiers, Sulfur Oxidizer & Reducer Bacteria, Anammox Bacteria, Thermoacidophilic, and Thermophilic Archaea. 

Chemoautotrophs Examples include:

Autotrophs are the primary producers of the food chain. Chemoautotrophs are autotrophic organisms that synthesize their own food by incorporating energy from chemical reactions deriving Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and producing organic compounds from inorganic compounds.

In simple words, Chemoautotrophs are organisms that get energy by oxidizing inorganic substances to synthesize organic food.

Chemoautotrophic organisms have been observed in extreme conditions like the deepest biosphere, deep-ocean vents, and acidified regions with hardly any sunlight.

Chemoautotrophs are divided into two groups based on their inorganic energy sources: Chemolithoautotrophs and Chemoorganotrophs. 

Chemoautotrophs Examples

Methane Oxidizers as Chemoautotrophs Examples:

1. Methylosinus

Methylosinus is a genus of methane-oxidizing bacteria that are single-celled microorganisms. As a habitation, they can be found in groups worldwide under harsh environments. As chemoautotrophs, they have a broad range of metabolic abilities and can consume nearly any organic substance, and even some inorganic substances, as a food source.

2. Methylocystis

Methylocystis is a genus of methane-oxidizing bacteria that uses chemosynthesis to manufacture its food. As a result, it is classified as a chemoautotrophic bacteria.

3. Methanomonas

Methylomonas is a group of bacteria that uses methane as a source of carbon and energy, a process known as methanotrophy. In this case, the risk of contamination is very modest.

4. Methanobacterium

Methanobacterium is a genus of Archaea belonging to the Methanobacteriaceae family. It can live in the absence of oxygen. It can produce its own food using methane as a source of energy.

5. Methylococcus

Methylococcus is a bacteria that gets its energy by oxidizing organic hydrogen-containing molecules like methanol.

6. Methylomonas

Methylomonas is a bacterial organism that gets its energy and carbon from methane. These microorganisms play a role in global warming mitigation.

Nitrifiers as Chemoautotrophs Examples:

7. Nitrosomonas

Nitrosomonas is a component of the Betaproteobacteria. It’s an ammonia-oxidizing bacterium genus. In the presence of oxygen, this exclusive chemolithoautotroph uses ammonia as a carbon and energy source.

8. Nitrosococcus

Nitrosococcus is a spiral-shaped freshwater microbe. It uses the chemosynthesis method to obtain its nutrition as a nitrifying bacteria, including ammonia-oxidizing bacteria as an energy source. In marine habitats, it plays a crucial role in nitrogen cycling.

9. Nitrobacter

Nitrobacter is a chemoautotrophic bacteria genus with a rod-shaped appearance. Nitrobacter can find it in both the water and the soil. It is in charge of oxidation that converts nitrite to nitrate.

10. Nitrospina 

Nitrospina is an aerobic bacteria that oxidizes nitrite in the ocean’s oxygenation within the minimum zone. It also plays a key role in the biogeochemical process of the environment.

11. Nitrospira

The genus Nitrospira is found in the soil, freshwater, geothermal springs, groundwater, and sewage treatment plants. Performing nitrite oxidation in the second phase of nitrification plays an essential role in the nitrogen cycle.

12. Nitrococcus

As a nitrifier, Nitrococcus is an obligate chemoautotrophic bacteria that oxidize nitrite into nitrate in the marine environment. In oceanic environments, it is necessary for nitrogen cycling.

Sulfur Oxidizer & Reducer Bacteria as Chemoautotrophs Examples:

13. Thiothrix

Thiothrix is a genus of the sulfur-oxidizing bacterium with multicellular filaments. Thiothrix can find it in sulfur springs as well as sewage.

 14. Thiobacillus

The genus Thiobacillus belongs to the Gram-negative Betaproteobacteria family. Thiobacillus can find it in both terrestrial and marine environments. It oxidizes sulfur to produce sulfates, which are essential for plant nutrition.

15. Thermococcus

Thermococcus is a thermophilic Archaea genus. It either adds elemental sulfur to its food or requires sulfur as a core component for growth, nutrition, and development in some species.

16. Proteus

Proteus is thus a Proteobacteria genus. Proteus bacilli are saprophytes that can be found all over the world. Partially decomposed animal matter, sewer, in the intestines of the mammals, composted soil, and animals and human beings’ feces are the most common places to find it. Sulfate-reducing bacteria with the ability to repair carbon dioxide are known as proteobacteria.

17. Campylobacter

Campylobacterota is a bacterial species. It’s indeed chemolithotrophy, meaning it meets its energy requirements by oxidizing reduced sulfur, hydrogen, or formate in combination with nitrates or oxygen reduction.

Anammox Bacteria as Chemoautotrophs Examples:

 18. Brocadia 

It is a chemolithoautotrophic ammonium oxidizing bacteria that is obligately anaerobic. It is also known as anammox bacteria. It has been found in various ecological systems and sewage treatment plants across the world.

 19. Anammoxoglobus

It’s an anammox bacteria that uses anaerobic ammonium oxidation in the chemosynthesis process. It has a one-of-a-kind metabolic capability to integrate ammonium with nitrite or nitrate to produce nitrogen gas.

 20. Jettenia

It has a versatile anammox metabolism similar to most of the other anammox bacteria, and it can recover carbon.

 21. Scanlindua

Candidatus Scalindua is a genus of bacteria. Ammonium oxidizing bacteria are primarily found in marine habitats. It has a slower growth and output than other known anammox species and a stronger attraction for nitrite.

Thermoacidophilic & Thermophilic Archaebacteria as Chemoautotrophs Examples:

 22. Thermoplasma

Thermoplasma is an archaeal genus. It survives in high-temperature and acidic conditions. They are both thermophilic and acidophilic. As a result, they nourish through the chemosynthesis process.

 23. Thermoproteus

It has a rod-like form. It can thrive at high temperatures and are hydrogen-sulfur chemoautotrophs. They can make nitrogen gas by oxidizing ammonia and reducing nitrate.

  24. Sulfolobus

It’s an anaerobic, oxygen-producing bacteria. It’s a component of the Thermoacidophiles genus. Sulfolobus is a naturally occurring autotrophic genus that prefers a pH of 2 and grows in hot temperatures.

 25. Sulfolobus islandicus

It is a prototype microorganism belonging to the Archaea’s superphylum. Despite their geological habitat, extreme thermoacidophilic bacteria are strictly chemoautotrophs.

 26. Sulfolobus Shibatae

Sulfolobus Shibatae is a genus of bacteria belonging to the Sulfolobaceae family. They obtain energy by oxidizing elemental sulfur during autotrophic conditions.

Chemotroph Example:

Chemotrophs are organisms that derive their energy through the oxidation of electron donors. They collect their energy by oxidizing the energy of chemical heterotrophic organisms. Chemotrophs synthesize cellular nutrients through the process of chemosynthesis. 

As a result, these organisms are non-photosynthetic. Chemotrophs are classified as either chemoautotrophs or chemoheterotrophs based on the source of their cellular carbon, which is inorganic compounds.

Chemotroph examples include; most bacteria and archaea such as methanogenic bacteria, sulfur & iron bacteria, neutrophilic iron-oxidizing bacteria, and fungi. 

 27. Gallionella

Gallionella is a chemolithotrophic bacteria that oxidize iron. It has been detected in a range of aquatic environments. This bacteria is crucial in the oxidation and fixation of iron.

 28. Wallemia ichthyophaga

It is one of three fungal species in the genus Wallemia; they have moderate nutritional requirements but require a lot of sodium ions for development and metabolism, which is why they are called chemotrophs.

 29. Chytrids

Chytrids are osmotrophic chemoheterotrophic fungi that use a variety of substrates, including simple sugars, cellulose, pectins, hydrocarbons, lignin, and xylans. It can obtain energy from some organic substances.

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