Nutrition in Animals

Nutrition in Animals

Types of Nutrition

• Autotrophic nutrition: Animals that can produce their own food, such as through photosynthesis (e.g., corals).
• Heterotrophic nutrition: Animals that cannot produce their own food and need to consume other organisms or organic matter (e.g., humans, animals).

Nutrient Requirements

• Macronutrients:
  • Carbohydrates
  • Proteins
  • Fats
• Micronutrients:
  • Vitamins
  • Minerals
• Water: essential for various bodily functions

Modes of Nutrition

• Herbivory: feeding on plants (e.g., cows, deer)
• Carnivory: feeding on animals (e.g., lions, sharks)
• Omnivory: feeding on both plants and animals (e.g., humans, bears)
• Detritivory: feeding on dead organic matter (e.g., earthworms)

Nutrient Uptake

• Ingestion: taking in food through the mouth
• Digestion: breaking down food into smaller molecules
• Absorption: taking in nutrients into the bloodstream
• Assimilation: using absorbed nutrients for energy, growth, and maintenance

Nutrient Utilization

• Energy production: using nutrients for energy production (e.g., ATP)
• Growth and development: using nutrients for growth and development
• Maintenance: using nutrients for maintaining bodily functions