Nutrition
Nutrition is a vital part of any organisms life. It is vital to an organism as nutrition is the key to its energy and many more nutrients.
To get nutrients into the organisms body, they must have a functioning digestive system. Most mammals have digestive systems which function the exact same way.
The standard procedure for getting nutrients is from a food source. Firstly, the organism eats something (usually another animal. Food can depend on the organism's liking), and the food goes into the mouth. Here, the food is chewed up by the teeth to break it up to a suitable size. As the brain detects food in the mouth, the salivary glands located in the mouth produces something called 'saliva'. This saliva is a liquid which contains an enzyme 'salivary amylase' which helps to break starch down (to make the food easier to digest/swallow).
The food will then proceed down into the throat/esophagus. As it makes its way further down, it
The stomach is literally filled with liters of gastric juices (HCL and more) to break up the food. This process helps to disinfect the food by destroying any bacteria that may be present. After a few hours of being digested, the food turns into chyme.
This chyme heads down into the sphincter valve in where the chyme is mixed with more enzymes. Enzymes for the pancreas and the gall bladder (adds bile) to digest the food. This diluted chyme is forced into the small intestine, where all the nutrients used by the organism is extracted.
All the nutrients are forwarded into the blood stream and into the liver. In the liver, glycogen (glucose) is created from carbohydrates and sugars from the food. This glycogen is forwarded to muscles and other parts of the body that need massive amount of energy. The liver is also responsible for detoxicating any other consumables, such as alcohol.
The nutrient-less food/waste is then forwarded to a larger intestine. The large intestine grabs back any water from the chyme and forms a solid, soft material called feces. This waste is then led to the rectum and anus where it is then excreted.
The standard procedure for getting nutrients is from a food source. Firstly, the organism eats something (usually another animal. Food can depend on the organism's liking), and the food goes into the mouth. Here, the food is chewed up by the teeth to break it up to a suitable size. As the brain detects food in the mouth, the salivary glands located in the mouth produces something called 'saliva'. This saliva is a liquid which contains an enzyme 'salivary amylase' which helps to break starch down (to make the food easier to digest/swallow).
The food will then proceed down into the throat/esophagus. As it makes its way further down, it
The stomach is literally filled with liters of gastric juices (HCL and more) to break up the food. This process helps to disinfect the food by destroying any bacteria that may be present. After a few hours of being digested, the food turns into chyme.
This chyme heads down into the sphincter valve in where the chyme is mixed with more enzymes. Enzymes for the pancreas and the gall bladder (adds bile) to digest the food. This diluted chyme is forced into the small intestine, where all the nutrients used by the organism is extracted.
All the nutrients are forwarded into the blood stream and into the liver. In the liver, glycogen (glucose) is created from carbohydrates and sugars from the food. This glycogen is forwarded to muscles and other parts of the body that need massive amount of energy. The liver is also responsible for detoxicating any other consumables, such as alcohol.
The nutrient-less food/waste is then forwarded to a larger intestine. The large intestine grabs back any water from the chyme and forms a solid, soft material called feces. This waste is then led to the rectum and anus where it is then excreted.
Within the digestive system
Muscular tissue:
All along the oesophagus and intestines, there are muscular tissue. Its job is to slowly guide the food down through the digestive system. The food gets pushed by the muscle, almost like a squeezing action. This is called peristalsis. The layer within the muscular layer is the glandular tissue. It produces enzymes and mucus to protect it.
Villi
There are really small things in the small intestine called villi. The villi are a very important in the job of extracting any needed nutrients from the food. It increases the surface area of the intestines so much that it is almost as big as a tennis court.
The Villi has a whole layer of cells to help to absorb nutrients quicker.
All along the oesophagus and intestines, there are muscular tissue. Its job is to slowly guide the food down through the digestive system. The food gets pushed by the muscle, almost like a squeezing action. This is called peristalsis. The layer within the muscular layer is the glandular tissue. It produces enzymes and mucus to protect it.
Villi
There are really small things in the small intestine called villi. The villi are a very important in the job of extracting any needed nutrients from the food. It increases the surface area of the intestines so much that it is almost as big as a tennis court.
The Villi has a whole layer of cells to help to absorb nutrients quicker.
Food Chain/Web
All organisms aren't the same - they all have different ways of doing things and feeding. There are certain types of foods that certain types of organisms eat. There is also a certain cycle that organisms follow. There are different roles in the cycle:
Producers: Producers are organisms which do not depend on other life forms as a source of food. Instead, they can create their own food and usually consumers depend on them. Producers a primarily plants.
Consumers: Consumers are organisms which rely on other life sources for food. There are different kinds of consumers.
Primary Consumers- Primary consumers are organisms which eat producers (plants).
Secondary Consumers - Secondary consumers are organisms which eat primary consumers.
Extra Consumers- Eat the last level of consumers each level (e.g. third eats second, fourth eats third)
Producers: Producers are organisms which do not depend on other life forms as a source of food. Instead, they can create their own food and usually consumers depend on them. Producers a primarily plants.
Consumers: Consumers are organisms which rely on other life sources for food. There are different kinds of consumers.
Primary Consumers- Primary consumers are organisms which eat producers (plants).
Secondary Consumers - Secondary consumers are organisms which eat primary consumers.
Extra Consumers- Eat the last level of consumers each level (e.g. third eats second, fourth eats third)
An example of a simple human food chain is as follows:
Producers
Algae ---> |
Primary Consumers
Shrimp ---> |
Secondary Consumers
Trout ---> |
Final Consumers
Human |
The human food web above displays the four different groups. The producers in this web is algae. It produces its own food via photosynthesis and does not rely on other organisms as its food source. Shrimp are the primary consumers and feed on the producers. Secondary consumers are trout which feed on primary consumers. Finally humans are the final consumers and they feed on trout.
The following is an example of the grizzly bear's food web though a little bit more complicated.
The following is an example of the grizzly bear's food web though a little bit more complicated.
The producers in this web are: grass, leaves, berries and aquatic plants
The primary consumers are: Moose, deer, beetles, ants, larvae and aquatic crustaceans
The last consumer is the grizzly bear.
Though it is not displayed on the diagram, not all organisms only have on consumer. For example, grass may be eaten by deer, but they are also eaten by moose, cows, sheep and many more. If these were added to the diagram, the multiple arrows will form a web (hence the name food web)
The food cycle is a very inter dependent system. Without producers there will be no primary consumers. Without primary consumers there will be no secondary consumers - it keeps going and going. Here is a simplified version of the food web- in the form of a food chain:
The primary consumers are: Moose, deer, beetles, ants, larvae and aquatic crustaceans
The last consumer is the grizzly bear.
Though it is not displayed on the diagram, not all organisms only have on consumer. For example, grass may be eaten by deer, but they are also eaten by moose, cows, sheep and many more. If these were added to the diagram, the multiple arrows will form a web (hence the name food web)
The food cycle is a very inter dependent system. Without producers there will be no primary consumers. Without primary consumers there will be no secondary consumers - it keeps going and going. Here is a simplified version of the food web- in the form of a food chain:
Herbivores, carnivores and omnivores
Producers or plants are the most important part of the food web. They are the basis of the web and feeds primary consumers, primary consumers feed secondary consumers and so on.
Animals have different diets. Some animals are carnivores and feed on herbivores. Herbivores are animals that live off plants. There are also animals that are not picky and feed of both types, they are called omnivores.
Grizzly bears are omnivores because they eat both animals and plants. During the times when bear can't find any animals, they eat berries and fruit. If they can find animals they eat them.
Animals have different diets. Some animals are carnivores and feed on herbivores. Herbivores are animals that live off plants. There are also animals that are not picky and feed of both types, they are called omnivores.
Grizzly bears are omnivores because they eat both animals and plants. During the times when bear can't find any animals, they eat berries and fruit. If they can find animals they eat them.