Which term describes organisms that obtain nutrition from dead material?

Which term describes organisms that obtain nutrition from dead material?

• A. Saprophyte
• B. Autotroph
• C. Heterotroph
• D. Decomposer

Answer: (A)

Feeding on dead material means deriving nutrients from decaying organic matter. A saprophyte is the organism that does this, typically by secreting enzymes to break down dead matter outside its body and then absorbing the resulting nutrients. Autotrophs make their own food and aren’t relying on dead material; heterotrophs get carbon from organic sources but not necessarily dead matter; decomposers perform the breakdown of dead material, but the term emphasizes the process rather than the exact nutrient source. So, the best fit for obtaining nutrition from dead material is saprophyte.

Feeding on dead material means deriving nutrients from decaying organic matter. A saprophyte is the organism that does this, typically by secreting enzymes to break down dead matter outside its body and then absorbing the resulting nutrients. Autotrophs make their own food and aren’t relying on dead material; heterotrophs get carbon from organic sources but not necessarily dead matter; decomposers perform the breakdown of dead material, but the term emphasizes the process rather than the exact nutrient source. So, the best fit for obtaining nutrition from dead material is saprophyte.