We are delighted in a lot of everyday activities. To perform these activities a large amount of energy is required. This energy originates from the food we consume. Food is essential as it supplies the energy needed for growth, repair work, and other life processes. All these come under the life process called nutrition.
Let’s learn more about nutrition and various kinds of nutrition in detail.
What is Nutrition?
“Nutrition is the process of taking in food and transforming it into energy and other essential nutrients required for life.”
Nutrients are the compounds which supply energy and biomolecules necessary for performing the different body functions. All living organisms need nutrients for appropriate performance and development. However they show divergence in how they fulfill this need. Some animals feed on basic inorganic compounds to fulfill their nutrient requirement, while others utilise complicated substances. The mode of nutrition differs from one types to another.
Also Check out: Nutrition in Plants
Types of Nutrition
Broadly, there are two types of nutrition amongst living organisms, namely:
- Autotrophic mode
- Heterotrophic mode
Autotrophic Nutrition
In the autotrophic mode, organisms use simple inorganic matters like water and carbon dioxide in the presence of light and chlorophyll to synthesize food on their own. In other words, the procedure of photosynthesis is utilized to transform light energy into food such as glucose. Such organisms are called autotrophs. Plants, algae, and germs (cyanobacteria) are some examples where autotrophic nutrition is observed.
During photosynthesis, carbon dioxide and water get converted into carbs. These carbohydrates are stored in the kind of starch in plants. Plants later derive the energy required from the stored starch. The procedure of photosynthesis can be discussed in 3 stages:
- Absorption: The chlorophyll present in leaves traps the light coming from the sun.
- Conversion: The taken in light energy gets transformed into chemical energy. And water soaked up will split into hydrogen and oxygen molecules.
- Decrease: At last, carbon dioxide gets decreased i.e. hydrogen molecules combine with carbon, to form carbohydrates (sugar particles).
Autotrophic Nutrition
All three events are not a continuous procedure. They may or might not happen sequentially.
In plants, stomata are the openings on leaves where gaseous exchange happens and is regulated by guard cells. Plants take in and release gases through these stomatal pores.
In desert-like habitats, to avoid water loss, guard cells keep these pores closed during the daytime. Later, throughout the night time, stomata will be opened to absorb co2 and store in the vacuoles. Throughout the daytime, they will utilize this kept co2 to perform photosynthesis.
Other than photosynthesis, plants also depend on soil for micro and macro elements. These aspects are utilized to synthesize proteins and other essential compounds needed for the proper functioning and growth of the plants.
Also Check out: Nutrition in Animals
Heterotrophic Nutrition
Heterotrophic Nutrition Every organism is not efficient in preparing food on its own. Such organisms depend upon others for their nutrition. The organisms which can not produce food by themselves and depend on other sources/organisms are called heterotrophs. This mode of nutrition is called heterotrophic nutrition.
Fungi and all the animals including human beings are heterotrophs. Heterotrophs can be of numerous varieties relying on their environment and adjustments. Some may eat plants (herbivores) and others consume animals (predators) while few consume both (omnivores). Hence we can say survival of heterotrophs depends straight or indirectly on plants.
Heterotrophs are categorized into different classifications based on their mode of nutrition. They are:
- Parasites (e.g. leeches, ticks)
- Saprophytes (e.g. mushrooms)
- Holozoic (e.g. people, canines)
Likewise Read: Photosynthesis
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Often Asked Concerns
Q1
What are the different modes of nutrition in living beings?
The different modes of nutrition include:
- Autotrophic nutrition
- Heterotrophic nutrition
Q2
What are the various modes of heterotrophic nutrition?
The different modes of heterotrophic nutrition consist of:
- Parasitic
- Saprophytic
- Holozoic
Q3
What is holozoic nutrition? Which organism displays holozoic nutrition?
Holozoic nutrition is the mode of heterotrophic nutrition that includes consumption, digestion, absorption and assimilation of strong and liquid material. This kind of nutrition is exhibited by amoeba that takes in complicated substances and transforms them into simpler compounds.
Q4
What are mixotrophs?
Mixotrophs are organisms that use a mix of different sources of energy and carbon instead of a single trophic mode. Euglena is an autotroph in addition to a heterotroph and is called a mixotroph.
Q5
Are all protists mixotrophs?
Not all protists are mixotrophs. A couple of protists are rigorous heterotrophs. While a couple of are both autotrophs and heterotrophs. The mixotrophic protists are called acetate flagellates.
Q6
What is the mode of nutrition in plants?
Plants display an autotrophic mode of nutrition due to the fact that they can prepare their own food. Plants utilize sunshine, water and co2 to produce energy during photosynthesis.
Q7
Why is nutrition vital for a living organism?
Nutrition is extremely important to lead a healthy life. A balanced diet plan reduces the danger of diseases and enhances the overall health of an organism. It supplies energy to the cells to perform the cellular activities.
Q8
What is the mode of nutrition in blue-green algae?
Blue-green algae can be autotrophs, heterotrophs or mixotrophs.
Nutrition is the
procedure of consuming food and converting it into energy and other vital nutrients required for life. Explore the different types of nutrition only at BYJU’S.
