Tag: Nutritional modes

Every living organism requires a source of energy and matter to survive, but the methods by which they acquire these resources vary dramatically across the tree of life. The fundamental process of nutrition can differ based on an organism's complexity, environment, and evolutionary history, leading to an incredible diversity of feeding strategies. These differences are crucial for understanding everything from cellular function to the intricate web of ecosystems.

Every living organism, from the smallest bacterium to the largest blue whale, needs energy to survive, grow, and reproduce. This fundamental requirement is met through nutrition, but not all organisms acquire their sustenance in the same way. The primary division of nutritional modes separates all life into two major categories based on their source of energy.