The mode of nutrition in which organisms take in nutrients from dead and decaying matter is called ______ nutrition.

Question

Question

This question was previously asked in

SSC GD Constable (2022) Official Paper (Held On : 10 Jan 2023 Shift 4)

Answer 1

The correct answer is Saprotropic.

Key Points

Saprotrophic nutrition is the mode of nutrition in which organisms obtain nutrients by decomposing dead and decaying organic matter.
Saprotrophs, also known as decomposers, secrete digestive enzymes to break down complex organic compounds into simpler substances.
They absorb the nutrients from the decomposed matter, playing a vital role in recycling nutrients back into the ecosystem.
Examples of saprotrophs include fungi (such as mushrooms and moulds) and certain bacteria.

Additional Information

Autotrophic:
- Autotrophic nutrition is the mode of nutrition in which organisms can synthesize their own food using inorganic substances and an external energy source.
- Autotrophs convert sunlight or inorganic compounds into organic compounds through photosynthesis or chemosynthesis.
- They include green plants, algae, and some bacteria.
- Autotrophs are primary producers in food chains, serving as a source of energy for heterotrophs.
Heterotrophic:
- Heterotrophic nutrition is the mode of nutrition in which organisms obtain their food by consuming organic matter produced by other organisms.
- Heterotrophs cannot synthesize their own food and rely on consuming plants, animals, or other organic materials for nutrients.
- Examples of heterotrophs include animals, fungi (except for a few species), and most bacteria.
- Heterotrophs play important roles as consumers and decomposers in food chains and nutrient cycles.
Monostrophic:
- A monographic diet, also known as the mono diet or single-food diet, involves eating only one food item or one type of food.
- Examples of monotrophic diets include consuming solely potatoes or apples or restricting oneself to fruits or meats.
- Monotrophic diets may be followed for reasons such as food faddism, crash dieting, initiating an elimination diet, or exploring extreme forms of alternative medicine.