Why do autotrophic and heterotrophic organisms depend on each other for survival?
Chemically, heterotrophic organisms depend on autotrophs to provide an energy supply and the nutrients deposited in soil from decomposing heterotrophs is essential to maintain a stable environment for autotrophs. But physically, autotrophs themselves can be used as a habitat for heterotrophs; providing essential shelter for survival. In the same physical sense, heterotrophs are essential to the survival of autotrophs as they enable autotrophic plants to reproduce via pollination.