Biological Nutrition and Energy Exchange Processes

Biological Nutrition and Energy Exchange

Nutrition: The set of processes by which bodies incorporate matter and energy from the medium surrounding them, using them to renovate structures and perform vital functions.

• Chlorophyll: Plants can carry out this process because they have a special substance capable of capturing sunlight energy.
• Chloroplasts: These are cellular organelles present in the leaves and green stems.
• Herbivores: Organisms that eat other living things, specifically plants.
• Carnivores: Also called predators, these feed on other living beings.
• Commensals: These are organisms that eat other living things without causing harm or providing benefits, such as some small crustaceans.
• Parasites: These live off other living things, causing harm, such as lice.
• Mutualism: This occurs when organisms help each other, such as the cattle egret (garcilla) that eats parasites off cattle.
• Stomata: These are the holes in the leaves that absorb carbon dioxide.
• Symbiosis: This occurs when organisms bind very tightly and permanently, with both individuals obtaining a benefit; for example, fungi and algae team up to form lichen.
• Saprophytes: These are organisms that feed on non-living organic matter, such as the remnants of leaves and dead animals; examples include fungi and bacteria.

Autotrophic and Heterotrophic Nutrition

Autotrophic organisms synthesize all substances essential for their metabolism from inorganic substances, so they do not need nourishment from other living beings. Heterotrophic nutrition is performed by organisms that incorporate organic material, as seen in animals, fungi, and bacteria.

Photosynthetic and Chemosynthetic Nutrition

Photosynthetic nutrition is performed by organisms capable of capturing light energy to produce sugars, such as plants, algae, and a small group of bacteria. Chemosynthetic nutrition is performed by organisms that exploit the energy released in certain chemical reactions, which is carried out by most bacteria.

Vascular Systems in Plants

A mixture of water and mineral salts is called crude sap. The crude sap is distributed through the plant via woody vessels (xylem). Through photosynthesis, organic matter forms the processed sap, which is transported through Liberian vessels (phloem).

The Respiratory System

The respiratory system is responsible for conducting the gas exchange between the outside and the inside of the individual. It takes in oxygen from the air and returns carbon dioxide produced by the cells.