Mixotroph

Mixotrophy (from Greek: oxis = mixture and Trophos = nourishing ) is a term for the ability of some organisms to assimilate both carbon dioxide to feed on organic matter. Thus, they are neither complete nor completely autotrophic heterotrophic; so they can both photosynthesis (or chemosynthesis ) operate as derived from other organisms food particles (or whole organisms ) absorb and digest ( Phagotrophie ) or solutes ( Osmotrophie ).

Spectrum of nutritional strategies

The carbon obtained from each of the conflicting diets autotrophy and heterotrophy can be very variable; so there are species that attract more carbon from the Autotrophie than from heterotrophy and in contrast types, which relate more carbon from the heterotrophy. The mixotrophy is therefore not absolute, but there is a continuous spectrum of absolute auto to absolute heterotrophy.

Benefit of mixotrophy

The mixotrophy ensures the organisms greater flexibility in their diets. Photosynthetically active organisms can gain access to nutrients, which they would not otherwise be used by the additional intake of food particles ( Phagotrophie ) or solute ( Osmotrophie ). Primary heterotrophic organisms with the ability to promote photosynthesis, so grow even in times of low food density and reproduce.

Examples

Especially in the aquatic environment are found mixotrophic organisms, these are all planktonic protozoa. Examples are Euglena, Paramecium bursaria and some types of algae (various golden algae, some species of Chlamydomonas, Pfiesteria shumwayae ). Recently, the genera Cephalanthera and Epipactis, a mixotrophic diet with the help of fungi could also be detected for higher plants, eg forest orchids.