Question

What is 'Autotrophic nutrition?' Give one example:

Answer 1

• There are two processes by which organisms obtain nutrition. In autotrophic nutrition, the organism prepares its food from simple substances present in the surroundings. In heterotrophic nutrition, organism obtains food from digesting organic compounds. Autotrophs are the producers in the food chain.
• There are two types of autotrophs: photoautotrophs and chemoautotrophs. Photoautotrophs get their energy from sunlight and convert it into usable energy (sugar). This process is called photosynthesis.
• Chemoautotrophs are organisms that obtain energy from inorganic chemical processes.

• For example, venus flytrap is also called Dionaea muscipula, these plants often trap insects by eating them. If an insect lands on a venus flytrap, it would activate the “trap” by touching the plant’s “hairs” and would be crushed by the plant. After doing so, a venus flytrap receives nutrients from the insect. These plants are still autotrophic because they mainly receive food from sunlight.