ANAND CLASSES Study Material and Notes to explore Case Study MCQs with Answers & Explanations on Types of Heterotrophic Nutrition topic of Chapter-1 Life Processes for Class 10 Science(Biology). Learn about Holozoic, Saprotrophic, and Parasitic Nutrition with real-life examples and concept-based questions.
Case Study-Based MCQs on Types of Heterotrophic Nutrition with Detailed Explanations & Daily Life Examples
Case study-based questions are designed to test analytical thinking and the ability to apply theoretical knowledge to real-life situations. Below are some case-study MCQs with detailed explanations and relatable examples.
Case Study 1: Mold on Bread (Saprotrophic Nutrition)
Ravi left a loaf of bread in a plastic bag on the kitchen counter for a week. After a few days, he noticed black and green patches growing on the bread. He wondered how these patches appeared even though he didn’t add anything to the bread.
Question:
What mode of nutrition is exhibited by the organisms growing on the bread?
a) Holozoic nutrition
b) Parasitic nutrition
c) Saprotrophic nutrition
d) Autotrophic nutrition
Answer: (c) Saprotrophic nutrition
Explanation:
- The black and green patches on the bread are mold, which belongs to the fungi kingdom.
- Fungi cannot prepare their own food like plants, so they secrete digestive enzymes onto the bread.
- These enzymes break down complex organic substances into simpler ones, which the fungi then absorb.
- This mode of nutrition, where organisms obtain nutrients from dead and decaying organic matter, is called saprotrophic nutrition.
Real-Life Example:
- The decaying of fruits, vegetables, and dead leaves by fungi like mushrooms and bacteria is another example of saprotrophic nutrition.
Case Study 2: A Dog Eating Food (Holozoic Nutrition)
Seema’s pet dog, Bruno, eagerly eats his bowl of food every day. The food consists of rice, meat, and vegetables. Bruno chews the food, swallows it, and later excretes the undigested material.
Question:
Which type of nutrition does Bruno exhibit?
a) Autotrophic nutrition
b) Saprotrophic nutrition
c) Parasitic nutrition
d) Holozoic nutrition
Answer: (d) Holozoic nutrition
Explanation:
- Holozoic nutrition is a mode of nutrition in which an organism ingests complex organic substances, digests them internally, absorbs nutrients, and then eliminates waste materials.
- Bruno chews and swallows his food, where digestion occurs in his stomach, and nutrients are absorbed in his intestines.
- The process involves ingestion, digestion, absorption, assimilation, and egestion.
Real-Life Example:
- Humans, cats, lions, cows, and most animals follow holozoic nutrition.
Case Study 3: Lice on Hair (Parasitic Nutrition)
Priya noticed that her scalp was itchy. On careful inspection, she found tiny insects (lice) moving in her hair. She also observed that the lice sucked blood from her scalp.
Question:
Which type of nutrition is followed by lice?
a) Saprotrophic nutrition
b) Parasitic nutrition
c) Holozoic nutrition
d) Autotrophic nutrition
Answer: (b) Parasitic nutrition
Explanation:
- Parasitic nutrition is a mode of nutrition in which an organism (parasite) lives in or on another living organism (host) and derives nutrients from it.
- The parasite usually harms the host.
- Lice suck blood from the scalp and live by depending on the host (Priya).
- Other examples of parasites include tapeworms in the intestine, mosquitoes sucking blood, and mistletoe plants growing on trees.
Real-Life Example:
- Bedbugs, ticks, and leeches also exhibit parasitic nutrition by feeding on other organisms.
Case Study 4: A Baby Drinking Milk (Holozoic Nutrition in Mammals)
A newborn baby is completely dependent on milk for nourishment. The mother feeds the baby, and the baby digests the milk inside its stomach to gain nutrients.
Question:
What type of nutrition is followed by the baby?
a) Saprotrophic nutrition
b) Parasitic nutrition
c) Holozoic nutrition
d) Autotrophic nutrition
Answer: (c) Holozoic nutrition
Explanation:
- The baby ingests milk, digests it inside the body, absorbs nutrients, and excretes the waste.
- This is an example of holozoic nutrition, where complex food substances are consumed and digested internally.
- Humans, cows, and other mammals also follow this form of nutrition.
Real-Life Example:
- When a person eats chapati, dal, and vegetables, the body follows the same process of holozoic nutrition.
Case Study 5: A Mushroom Growing on Dead Wood (Saprotrophic Nutrition)
Ramesh noticed a white, umbrella-shaped fungus growing on a dead tree trunk. He found that the fungus was decomposing the wood over time.
Question:
What mode of nutrition is exhibited by the fungus?
a) Autotrophic nutrition
b) Saprotrophic nutrition
c) Holozoic nutrition
d) Parasitic nutrition
Answer: (b) Saprotrophic nutrition
Explanation:
- The fungus secretes digestive enzymes onto the dead wood.
- The enzymes break down complex organic matter into simpler substances.
- The fungus absorbs these simpler substances as nutrients, showing saprotrophic nutrition.
Real-Life Example:
- Mushrooms growing on damp wood, decaying leaves, or rotten fruits.
Case Study 6: Mosquito Bites and Disease Transmission (Parasitic Nutrition)
Rahul went to a park in the evening and was bitten by mosquitoes. Later, he developed a fever and was diagnosed with malaria. His doctor explained that malaria is caused by a parasite transmitted by mosquito bites.
Question:
Which of the following best describes the mode of nutrition of the malaria-causing organism?
a) Holozoic nutrition
b) Saprotrophic nutrition
c) Parasitic nutrition
d) Autotrophic nutrition
Answer: (c) Parasitic nutrition
Explanation:
- The Plasmodium parasite, which causes malaria, lives inside human blood cells and derives nutrition from the host’s body, harming it.
- The mosquito itself is not a parasite but acts as a vector that carries and transmits the parasite from one person to another.
- Parasitic nutrition involves one organism (parasite) benefiting at the expense of another (host).
Real-Life Example:
- Ticks on dogs, leeches sucking blood, and tapeworms in the intestines are other examples of parasitic nutrition.
Case Study 7: Decomposing Leaves in a Garden (Saprotrophic Nutrition)
Meena noticed that during autumn, the fallen leaves in her garden started decaying, turning brown and soft. After a few weeks, the leaves had almost disappeared, leaving behind a rich, dark-colored soil.
Question:
What type of nutrition is responsible for breaking down the dead leaves?
a) Autotrophic nutrition
b) Saprotrophic nutrition
c) Holozoic nutrition
d) Parasitic nutrition
Answer: (b) Saprotrophic nutrition
Explanation:
- Fungi and bacteria in the soil release enzymes that break down complex leaf matter into simpler nutrients.
- These nutrients are then absorbed by the microorganisms, a process known as saprotrophic nutrition.
- The result is humus, a rich organic material that fertilizes the soil.
Real-Life Example:
- Mushrooms growing on dead logs, bacteria decomposing organic waste, and fungi breaking down dead plants.
Case Study 8: An Owl Hunting a Mouse (Holozoic Nutrition)
One night, an owl silently swooped down and captured a mouse. The owl swallowed the mouse whole and later regurgitated the undigested parts like bones and fur.
Question:
Which type of nutrition does the owl follow?
a) Parasitic nutrition
b) Saprotrophic nutrition
c) Holozoic nutrition
d) Autotrophic nutrition
Answer: (c) Holozoic nutrition
Explanation:
- The owl ingests its food (mouse), digests the nutrients inside its stomach, absorbs the useful components, and then egests the indigestible parts (bones and fur).
- This ingestion-digestion-absorption-egestion process is characteristic of holozoic nutrition.
Real-Life Example:
- Humans, tigers, birds, and fishes follow holozoic nutrition.
Case Study 9: A Venus Flytrap Eating an Insect (Holozoic & Parasitic Nutrition Hybrid)
A scientist observed a Venus flytrap plant snapping its leaves shut after an insect landed on it. A few days later, only the insect’s outer shell remained.
Question:
Which type of nutrition is observed in this case?
a) Saprotrophic nutrition
b) Holozoic nutrition
c) Autotrophic nutrition
d) Parasitic nutrition
Answer: (b) Holozoic nutrition
Explanation:
- The Venus flytrap is a unique plant that follows holozoic nutrition because it ingests insects, digests them internally, and absorbs nutrients.
- However, since it also performs photosynthesis, it is an autotrophic plant with heterotrophic capabilities.
Real-Life Example:
- Pitcher plants and sundews also trap insects for nutrition.
Case Study 10: A Cuscuta Plant Growing on Another Plant (Parasitic Nutrition in Plants)
A farmer noticed a yellow, thread-like plant growing around his crops. Over time, his crops became weak, and their leaves turned yellow.
Question:
What type of nutrition does the yellow plant exhibit?
a) Saprotrophic nutrition
b) Parasitic nutrition
c) Holozoic nutrition
d) Autotrophic nutrition
Answer: (b) Parasitic nutrition
Explanation:
- The Cuscuta plant (Dodder) wraps around the host plant and extracts water and nutrients from it, weakening the host.
- Since Cuscuta lacks chlorophyll, it cannot perform photosynthesis, making it a parasitic plant.
Real-Life Example:
- Mistletoe is another parasitic plant that grows on trees and absorbs their nutrients.
Case Study 11: Fungi Growing on a Rotten Orange (Saprotrophic Nutrition)
Amit forgot an orange in his kitchen. After a week, he noticed that the orange had become soft and had a fuzzy white and green growth on it.
Question:
Which mode of nutrition is observed in this case?
a) Saprotrophic nutrition
b) Holozoic nutrition
c) Parasitic nutrition
d) Autotrophic nutrition
Answer: (a) Saprotrophic nutrition
Explanation:
- The white and green fungal growth is mold, which secretes enzymes onto the orange, breaking it down externally.
- The fungi then absorb the nutrients, characteristic of saprotrophic nutrition.
Real-Life Example:
- Moldy bread, fungi growing on wood, and bacteria decomposing dead matter.
Case Study 12: Tapeworm in a Human Intestine (Parasitic Nutrition)
A doctor diagnosed a patient with a tapeworm infection. The patient had stomach pain and weight loss.
Question:
What type of nutrition does the tapeworm exhibit?
a) Saprotrophic nutrition
b) Holozoic nutrition
c) Parasitic nutrition
d) Autotrophic nutrition
Answer: (c) Parasitic nutrition
Explanation:
- The tapeworm attaches itself to the intestine and absorbs digested food directly from the host’s body.
- It does not digest food by itself, relying entirely on the host, making it a parasite.
Real-Life Example:
- Roundworms, fleas, and bedbugs also exhibit parasitic nutrition.
Case Study 13: A Cow Chewing Cud (Holozoic Nutrition in Herbivores)
In a village, Ramesh observed that cows chew their food for a long time, even when they are not eating fresh grass. His grandfather explained that cows store food and later chew it again.
Question:
What type of nutrition is seen in cows?
a) Saprotrophic nutrition
b) Holozoic nutrition
c) Parasitic nutrition
d) Autotrophic nutrition
Answer: (b) Holozoic nutrition
Explanation:
- Cows follow holozoic nutrition, where they ingest, digest, absorb, and egest food.
- They are ruminants, meaning they first swallow the food, store it in a special stomach chamber (rumen), and later regurgitate it as cud for further chewing.
Real-Life Example:
- Buffaloes, deer, and goats also exhibit holozoic nutrition with cud-chewing.
Case Study 14: Athlete’s Foot Infection (Parasitic Nutrition by Fungi)
Sohan developed an itchy, red patch between his toes after wearing wet socks for several days. His doctor diagnosed him with athlete’s foot, a fungal infection.
Question:
What type of nutrition does the fungus causing athlete’s foot exhibit?
a) Autotrophic nutrition
b) Holozoic nutrition
c) Parasitic nutrition
d) Saprotrophic nutrition
Answer: (c) Parasitic nutrition
Explanation:
- The fungus lives on the human skin and absorbs nutrients, causing itching, redness, and skin damage.
- Since it depends on a living organism (the human body) and harms it, it follows parasitic nutrition.
Real-Life Example:
- Ringworm and fungal infections on nails also show parasitic nutrition.
Case Study 15: A Cat Drinking Milk (Holozoic Nutrition in Mammals)
Ritu’s pet cat licked up a bowl of milk. After some time, the milk was completely digested, and the cat became active.
Question:
Which type of nutrition is observed in the cat?
a) Saprotrophic nutrition
b) Parasitic nutrition
c) Holozoic nutrition
d) Autotrophic nutrition
Answer: (c) Holozoic nutrition
Explanation:
- The cat ingests the milk, digests it inside the body, absorbs the nutrients, and later excretes waste.
- This is characteristic of holozoic nutrition, where an organism consumes food in a complex form and breaks it down inside the body.
Real-Life Example:
- Humans, dogs, tigers, and monkeys also show holozoic nutrition.
Case Study 16: A Tick on a Dog (Parasitic Nutrition)
Ramesh found small blood-sucking ticks attached to his pet dog’s skin. These ticks fed on the dog’s blood and caused irritation and infection.
Question:
What type of nutrition do ticks follow?
a) Autotrophic nutrition
b) Saprotrophic nutrition
c) Holozoic nutrition
d) Parasitic nutrition
Answer: (d) Parasitic nutrition
Explanation:
- Ticks attach themselves to the dog’s skin and suck blood, harming the host.
- They do not kill the host but depend on it for nutrition, showing parasitic nutrition.
Real-Life Example:
- Bedbugs, fleas, and lice are other examples of parasites feeding on blood.
Case Study 17: A Honeybee Collecting Nectar (Holozoic Nutrition in Insects)
Geeta observed a honeybee collecting nectar from flowers and taking it back to the beehive to make honey.
Question:
Which type of nutrition is exhibited by honeybees?
a) Saprotrophic nutrition
b) Holozoic nutrition
c) Parasitic nutrition
d) Autotrophic nutrition
Answer: (b) Holozoic nutrition
Explanation:
- Honeybees collect nectar, digest it inside their bodies, and convert it into honey.
- They do not rely on another living organism for food, nor do they absorb nutrients externally, making it holozoic nutrition.
Real-Life Example:
- Butterflies and ants also follow holozoic nutrition.
Case Study 18: Termites Eating Wooden Furniture (Holozoic Nutrition in Insects)
Anita noticed that the wooden furniture in her house had holes and a powdery substance around it. She found termites inside the wood.
Question:
Which type of nutrition is followed by termites?
a) Saprotrophic nutrition
b) Parasitic nutrition
c) Holozoic nutrition
d) Autotrophic nutrition
Answer: (c) Holozoic nutrition
Explanation:
- Termites ingest wood, digest cellulose, and use the nutrients for survival.
- The process of eating, digesting, and excreting waste is a characteristic of holozoic nutrition.
Real-Life Example:
- Beetles, grasshoppers, and cockroaches also exhibit holozoic nutrition.
Case Study 19: Maggots on Rotten Meat (Saprotrophic Nutrition)
A butcher shop worker found maggots (fly larvae) feeding on rotten meat. Over time, the meat decomposed and had a foul smell.
Question:
What type of nutrition do maggots follow?
a) Saprotrophic nutrition
b) Holozoic nutrition
c) Parasitic nutrition
d) Autotrophic nutrition
Answer: (a) Saprotrophic nutrition
Explanation:
- Maggots secrete digestive enzymes onto the meat, break it down, and absorb the nutrients.
- Since they consume dead and decaying organic matter, they follow saprotrophic nutrition.
Real-Life Example:
- Houseflies and decomposer bacteria also follow saprotrophic nutrition.
Case Study 20: A Child with Hookworm Infection (Parasitic Nutrition)
A doctor examined a child who was suffering from anemia and weakness. Lab tests confirmed the presence of hookworms in his intestine.
Question:
Which type of nutrition is exhibited by hookworms?
a) Saprotrophic nutrition
b) Holozoic nutrition
c) Parasitic nutrition
d) Autotrophic nutrition
Answer: (c) Parasitic nutrition
Explanation:
- Hookworms attach to the intestine and suck blood from the host, causing weakness.
- Since they harm the host and depend on it for survival, they follow parasitic nutrition.
Real-Life Example:
- Tapeworms, roundworms, and pinworms also exhibit parasitic nutrition.
Conclusion
These case studies help in relating biology concepts to real-world scenarios. From cows chewing cud to termites eating wood and maggots decomposing meat, we see different types of heterotrophic nutrition in daily life.
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