Question

Define (i) saprophytic nutrition (ii) parasitic nutrition, and (iii) holozoic nutrition. Give one example of each type.

Answer 1

(i) The mode of nutrition in which the organisms depend upon dead and decaying plants, animals and organic materials for obtaining their nutrition is known as saprophytic nutrition. Example: Fungi
(ii) The mode of nutrition in which an organism derives its nutrition from the body of other living organisms is known as parasitic nutrition. Example: Cuscuta
(iii) The mode of nutrition in which an organism takes in the complex organic food material into its body by the process of ingestion, followed by digestion and then absorption of food in the body cells is known as holozoic nutrition. Example: Human beings