Which of these is NOT an example of heterotrophic mode of nutrition?

Step 1: Analyze the question We need the option that is NOT a heterotrophic mode of nutrition. So we are looking for the autotrophic one.

Step 2: Key concept

• Autotrophic nutrition: The organism makes its own food, usually by photosynthesis. Plants and algae do this. The term holophytic means "plant-like" feeding, so it is another name for autotrophic nutrition.
• Heterotrophic nutrition: The organism cannot make its own food and depends on other organisms. The types are: • Holozoic: ingesting solid food and digesting it internally (humans, dogs, amoeba). • Parasitic: living on or in a host and feeding at its expense (tapeworm, mosquito, Plasmodium). • Saprophytic: feeding on dead and decaying organic matter (mushrooms, moulds such as Rhizopus). • Symbiotic: two organisms living together, with at least one feeding from the other (for example, nitrogen-fixing bacteria in legume root nodules, or lichens). It is generally counted among the heterotrophic modes.

Step 3: Evaluate the options

• A. Holozoic: heterotrophic
• B. Holophytic: autotrophic (makes its own food), so this is NOT heterotrophic
• C. Parasitic: heterotrophic
• D. Saprophytic: heterotrophic
• E. Symbiotic: heterotrophic

Answer: B. Holophytic

Exam tip: Remember "holo-PHYTE = PLANT". Holophytic means plant-type feeding, which is autotrophic. Holo-ZOIC means animal-type feeding, which is heterotrophic. Linking phyto with plants and zoo with animals helps you avoid mixing them up.