Explain autotrophic and heterotrophic nutrition with examples.

Autotrophic and heterotrophic nutrition are two main modes by which organisms obtain their food.

Autotrophic nutrition is the mode in which organisms prepare their own food from simple inorganic substances like carbon dioxide and water using energy from sunlight or chemical reactions. Green plants, algae, and some bacteria follow this mode through photosynthesis. For example, plants like grass and trees produce their own food.

Heterotrophic nutrition is the mode in which organisms depend on other organisms for their food, as they cannot synthesize it themselves. These organisms obtain energy by consuming plants or other animals. Examples include humans, animals, fungi, and some bacteria.

The key difference lies in food production. Autotrophs are producers in the ecosystem, while heterotrophs are consumers.

Thus, both types of nutrition are interconnected and essential for maintaining the flow of energy in ecosystems.