An organism that depends on a living host for nutrients is called a?

An organism that depends on a living host for nutrients is called a?

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

Answer: (A)

Parasites are organisms that live on or inside a living host and rely on that host for nutrients, often harming it in the process. This is what makes them different from saprophytes, which feed on dead organic matter rather than living hosts. Autotrophs make their own nutrients from inorganic sources (like plants via photosynthesis). Heterotrophs need to obtain preformed organic nutrients from other organisms, and parasites are a specialized type of heterotroph that uses a living host for nourishment. So the described organism is a parasite.

Parasites are organisms that live on or inside a living host and rely on that host for nutrients, often harming it in the process. This is what makes them different from saprophytes, which feed on dead organic matter rather than living hosts. Autotrophs make their own nutrients from inorganic sources (like plants via photosynthesis). Heterotrophs need to obtain preformed organic nutrients from other organisms, and parasites are a specialized type of heterotroph that uses a living host for nourishment. So the described organism is a parasite.