THE DIFFERENT WAYS IN WHICH LIVING ORGANISMS OBTAIN THEIR
NUTRIENTS
3rd row:
Gas exchange and
Transport
absorbed from
wall of stomach &
small intestine,
transported in
blood
rumen
mineral transport
in xylem
Nutrition
nutrient cycles
carbon & nitrogen
cycles
Photosynthesis
Ruminants
Homeostasis &
Excretion
waste excreted,
broken down by
bacteria, absorbed
by plants
Coord
&movement
Reproduction &
Growth
foetus-via placenta
baby-via mother's
milk
Intro: plants; animals-herbivores, carnivores, omnivores; microorganisms-fungi, bacteria; insects; all
obtain nutrients from different sources, in different ways. This relies on age, how complex
organism is & its role in nutrient cycles.
Para 1: carbon/nitrogen cycles-explain how bacteria gain their nutrients via these cycles then that plants
take up these nutrients e.g. carbon/nitrogen (as CO2/NO2 or inorganic ions/nitrates from soil).
Organisms not eaten & dead stuff & waste decompose, bacteria break down organic molecules,
producing inorganic-taken up by plants. Rely on environment.
Para 2: Photosynthesis to make glucose.
Para 3: Uptake in both plants and animals: plants-xylem=water and minerals. Consumers feed on
plants/each other to obtain these nutrients-can't make own food. Mammals-ingestion, digestion,
absorption through stomach wall & small intestine, nutrients transported in blood to liver via hepatic
portal vein, then distributed round body via blood (lipids absorbed into lymphatic system).
Para 4: . Ruminants-cud regurgitated to get max nutrients. Role of bacteria in rumen.
Para 5 . Foetus-placenta, baby/young-suckle, milk- protein rich.
Conc: importance of nutrients+nutrient cycles+systems developed to obtain most nutrients. Importance
of balanced diet where humans can pick & choose source of nutrients.