Nutrient Acquisition by Microorganisms

• Science
• Secondary Education
• Age 11

Nutrient Acquisition by Microorganisms

Learning Objective

At the end of the lesson, you will be able to explain how microorganisms obtain nutrients.

How do microorganisms obtain nutrients?

What do you already know about how microorganisms obtain nutrients?

Introduction

Microorganisms, like other living things, require food to grow and reproduce.

Methods of Nutrient Acquisition

Microorganisms have different ways of obtaining nutrients. Some make their own food, while others absorb nutrients from dead matter.

Autotrophs

Autotrophic microorganisms can produce their own food using energy from sunlight or inorganic compounds.

Photosynthesis

Photosynthetic microorganisms, such as algae and some bacteria, use sunlight to convert carbon dioxide and water into energy-rich organic compounds.

Chemosynthesis

Chemosynthetic microorganisms, found in extreme environments like deep-sea hydrothermal vents, obtain energy by converting inorganic chemicals into organic compounds.

Heterotrophs

Heterotrophic microorganisms cannot produce their own food and obtain nutrients by consuming organic matter.

Types of Heterotrophs

There are various types of heterotrophic microorganisms, including saprophytes, parasites, and symbionts.

Conclusion

Microorganisms have diverse ways of obtaining nutrients, either by making their own food or by absorbing nutrients from dead matter.

Enumerate down 3 things you learned in this lesson.

Have students enter three things they learned in this lesson. With this they can indicate their own learning efficiency of this lesson.

Think of 2 things you want to know more about.

Here, students enter two things they would like to know more about. This not only increases involvement, but also gives them more ownership.

Ask 1 question about something you haven't quite understood yet.

The students indicate here (in question form) with which part of the material they still have difficulty. For the teacher, this not only provides insight into the extent to which the students understand/master the material, but also a good starting point for the next lesson.