The four main types of heterotrophic nutrition are:


●Holozoic nutrition: the word holozoic is made from TWO words- holo= whole and zoikos= animals and literally means animals which eat their food whole. COMPLEX food is taken into a specialist digestive SYSTEM and broken down into small PIECES to be absorbed. This consists of 5 stages, ingestion, digestion, absorption, assimilation and egestion. E.g.: human


●Saprobiontic/saprophytic nutrition: Organisms feed on dead organic remains of other organisms. E.g.: decomposers


●Parasitic nutrition: Organisms obtain food from other living organisms (the host), with the host receiving no benefit from the parasite.When a parasite is present inside the body of the host, it is known as an endoparasite. These parasites suck and feed on the blood of the host. E.g.: tapeworms


●Symbiotic nutrition:Two organisms live in close association to benefit each other or one of the two benefits the other whilst it itself suffers neither loss but nor does it gain. E.g.: fungi and algae, rizobium and LEGUMINOUS plants roots.

@skb