Autotrophic and Heterotropic Nutrition
Autotrophic and Heterotropic are the modes of nutrition. Organisms need energy to survive and to do proper activities and functions of the body. This energy comes from the food. Therefore there are several ways of taking the food. Some organisms like plants prepare their own food by using raw materials like sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide this is simply known as photosynthesis. These types of organisms are called Autotrophs and the mode of nutrition is known as autotrophic nutrition.
Other organisms depend upon these autotrophs for their food and energy. They are known as heterotrophs and the mode of nutrition is known as heterotrophic nutrition.
Heterotrophic nutrition is again subdivided into three main types
1. Holozoic
2. Saprophytic
3. Parasitic