The question is incomplete, the complete question is:
A mushroom gains its energy by decomposing the tissues of dead organisms. Should mushrooms be classified as autotrophs, heterotrophs, in both groups, or in neither group, and for what reason?
A. They are autotrophs because they do not eat their food, as animals do.
B. They are autotrophs because decomposition is very similar to photosynthesis.
C. They are heterotrophs because their food is made by other organisms.
D. They are both autotrophs and heterotrophs, because they may grow in sunlight or darkness.
Answer:
The correct answer is option C.
Explanation:
Heterotrophs are the species, which do not possess the tendency to produce their own food and rely upon other organisms for their food. Fungi are the heterotrophs as they obtain their food from other dead or living organisms.
Mushrooms come under the kingdom Fungi and obtain their food by decomposing dead remnants of organisms or feeding for the production of energy.
