Summary
Living organisms engage in various feeding strategies to acquire nutrients and energy for survival. Heterotrophs rely on external food sources and different mechanisms to obtain and process nutrients. Filter feeders use specialized structures like cilia to gather food particles, while raptorial feeders employ selective capture methods and toxicysts for immobilization. Microorganisms demonstrate diverse feeding behaviors such as filter feeding, diffusion feeding, and predation as adaptive strategies. Predatory behaviors like consuming prey's cytoplasm have evolved in organisms like Paramecium, Frontonia, and Vampyrella for survival.
Introduction to Basic Functions of Living Organisms
Living organisms perform basic functions of getting food, digesting it, and excreting waste materials. Organisms need energy to live, and some cannot make their own food, known as heterotrophs.
Nutrient Absorption and Waste Discharge
Nutrients are taken into the cytoplasm, and waste material is left in the vacuole before being discharged into the environment. The content of the food vacuole reacts with digestive enzymes in filamentous cyanobacteria.
Filter Feeding in Microorganisms
Filter feeders use cilia to create a vortex that brings food particles to them. Rotifers are successful filter feeders with cilia specialized for this task. Stentors and other microorganisms exhibit filter feeding strategies effectively.
Raptorial Feeding Mechanism
Raptorial feeders selectively capture prey, hunt other organisms, and utilize toxicysts for immobilization. Examples include Paramecium, Paradileptus, Frontonia, and Vampyrella, each demonstrating unique feeding styles.
Diffusion Feeding and Predation
Organisms like Heliozoa exhibit diffusion feeding by relying on accidental contact with prey. Predatory behaviors such as consuming prey's cytoplasm and immobilizing ciliates have evolved as survival strategies in diverse microorganisms.
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