Heterotrophic type of nutrition: differences and peculiarities

Organisms that independently synthesize useful substances, which they need for life, are called autotrophic. This type of food is also called "autotrophic". To these living organisms for existence there is enough environment with the presence of carbon dioxide, water, inorganic salts and a certain energy source. Purple bacteria and green plants are fed by photosynthesis. Some bacteria have a type of nutrition in which they receive useful compounds through the oxidation of various inorganic substances such as hydrogen sulphide and ammonia. The source of energy is most often sunlight.

Creatures that use heterotrophic nutrition are unable to synthesize the substances they need independently. They are forced to use ready-made connections. Therefore, the heterotrophic type of nutrition is realized due to autotrophs or remains of other organisms. Thus, a food chain is formed . The creatures that use this type of food include most bacteria, fungi and all animals.

There are different types of heterotrophs. Some beings can eat others or their separate parts, and then digest. This is a holozoal type of food. Such creatures constantly hunt to feed themselves. Cats eat mice and birds, frogs eat mosquitoes and flies, owls feed on rodents, etc. Organisms that have this type of nutrition, are endowed with certain senses, muscle and nerve tools. This arsenal helps them to find and catch prey. The transformation of food into molecular compounds that the body can metabolize occurs in the digestive system.

Some plants (sundew, venus flytrap), in addition to photosynthesis, can still obtain food by hunting. They catch, entice and digest different insects, as well as some small animals. Such plants are called "insectivorous".

Herbivorous animals feed on plant food and receive from its cells energetically valuable compounds that are synthesized by green plants.

Another group of holozoans (carnivorous predators) uses a type of food in which they eat herbivores or other predators. Some of them are omnivorous and can eat both plant and animal food.

Initially, all heterotrophic creatures receive energetically valuable substances from autotrophs. Green plants synthesize these compounds by photosynthesis. Sunlight is the main source of energy. Without it, there would be no life on the planet, since it is the basis of all nutrients.

Most varieties of bacteria, yeasts and molds do not have the ability to swallow food whole. They feed through the membranes of cells. This type of heterotrophic nutrition is called saprophytic. These creatures can live only in those places where there are plant or animal organisms that decompose, or a significant amount of the products of their vital activity.