Final answer:
Photoautotrophs are autotrophs that perform photosynthesis to create organic compounds using sunlight, and they include plants, algae, and certain bacteria such as cyanobacteria.
Step-by-step explanation:
Autotrophs that obtain energy and nutrients by harnessing sunlight through photosynthesis are specifically called photoautotrophs. These include plants, algae, and certain bacteria such as cyanobacteria.
Photoautotrophs are the primary producers in most ecosystems, using the Sun's energy to make food in the form of organic molecules like glucose. These organisms are vital to all ecosystems since they are able to produce organic compounds from inorganic ones, a capability essential for the sustenance of life on Earth.