Definitions
Introduction to Nutrition
Nutrition is the process by which organisms obtain and use food to sustain life. It involves the intake of nutrients, their assimilation, and the utilization of these nutrients for growth, development, and maintenance of the body.
Modes of Nutrition
Plants and animals have different modes of nutrition. Plants can be broadly classified into autotrophic and heterotrophic nutrition based on how they obtain their food.
Heterotrophic nutrition can be further classified into various modes:
- Saprophytic nutrition: Organisms that obtain nutrients by decomposing dead organic matter.
- Parasitic nutrition: Organisms that obtain nutrients from a host organism, causing harm to the host.
- Holozoic nutrition: Organisms that ingest solid food and digest it internally.
- Symbiotic nutrition: Association between different organisms for mutual benefit, such as in lichens.