Nutrition is defined as the process of taking food to carry out different functions of the body needed for the survival of the organisms. The two main type of nutrition is autotrophic and heterotrophic. When an organism can prepare its own food, such as plants, they are known as autotrophs and such type of nutrition is known as autotrophic nutrition.
Heterotrophic nutrition is a type of nutrition in which an organism is dependent on other organisms for food. Heterotrophic nutrition is divided into saprophytic nutrition, parasitic nutrition and holozoic nutrition. Parasitic mode of nutrition occurs when an organism derives its nutrition from other living organisms. Saprophytic nutrition is a type of nutrition when an organism feeds on dead plants or animals. Holozoic nutrition is a type of nutrition in which an organism takes in whole food.