explain the heterotrophic nutrition and write the parasitic organisms
Answers
Explanation:
is a mode of nutrition in which the organisms obtain readymade organic food from outside sources. The organisms that depend upon outside sources for obtaining organic nutritens are called heterotrophs. Heterotrophic nutrition is of three types – saprophytic, parasitic and holozoic
Answer:
All animals and non-photosynthetic plants are classified as heterotrophs since they are unable to prepare food. So these organisms resort to other various forms of nutrition. Hence, from an ecological perspective, heterotrophs are always secondary or tertiary consumers in a food chain.
Humans and other vertebrates rely on converting organic, solid or liquid food into energy. Other organisms such as fungi rely on converting dead organic matter into nutrients. In essence, heterotrophs break down complex food into its readily usable constituents.
Parasitic Nutrition
Organisms that live in or on other organisms and acquire food at the expense of its host are called parasites. Most parasites are harmful to the hosts’ health; sometimes, they even kill the host. Both animals and plants may serve as a host. Unlike commensalism, the parasite causes some harm to its host. A few examples of parasites are louse on a human head, Cuscuta plant and tapeworms.
Cymothoa exigua is an unusual parasite. It is also known as the tongue-eating louse and is aptly named so as it is found in the mouth of the marine fish Lithognathus. It essentially severs the fish’s tongue, cutting off the blood supply and causing the tongue to fall off. The louse then attaches itself to the remains of the tongue and essentially acts as the fish’s new tongue.