Nutrition and Digestion in Non-Chordate Animals

Digestion and Nutrition

• Breakdown of complex food compounds into simpler units is known as digestion.

Role of Nutrients in Animals

• Nutrients provide energy, building blocks, and essential molecules for proper body function.

Energy Source for Plants

• The main source of energy for plants is light energy from the sun.

Acquisition and Ingestion of Food

• The term used to describe the acquisition and ingestion of food by animals is feeding.

Essential Requirements for Animals

• Animals require essential nutrients, amino acids, and vitamins that they cannot synthesize for proper body function.

Plant Synthesis

• Plants use light energy, water, and carbon dioxide to synthesize all the components that constitute them.

Exploitation of Food Resources

• The success of how animals exploit food resources is compared with their ecological efficiency.

Purpose of Nutrients in Animals

• The main purpose of nutrients in animals is to provide fuel in terms of energy and raw materials for building and maintaining cellular machinery.

Feeding and Nutrition

• The acquisition and ingestion of food by animals, also known as feeding, is required to provide fuel in terms of energy and raw materials for building and maintaining cellular machinery.

Explore the characteristics of feeding habits and nutrient requirements in multicellular non-chordate animals. Understand the importance of nutrients for providing energy, building cellular machinery, and supporting growth and reproduction.