Editing Nutrition (section)

== Nutrients ==
{{main|Nutrient}}

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| footer            = [[Composting]] within [[agricultural systems]] capitalizes upon the natural services of nutrient recycling in ecosystems. [[Bacteria]], [[fungi]], [[insects]], [[earthworms]], [[Hemiptera|bugs]], and other creatures dig and digest the compost into fertile soil. The minerals and nutrients in the soil is recycled back into the production of crops.
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Nutrients are substances that provide energy and physical components to the organism, allowing it to survive, grow, and reproduce. Nutrients can be basic elements or complex [[macromolecule]]s. Approximately 30 elements are found in [[organic matter]], with [[nitrogen]], [[carbon]], and [[phosphorus]] being the most important.{{Sfn|Andrews|2017|pp=70–72}} [[Macronutrient]]s are the primary substances required by an organism, and [[micronutrient]]s are substances required by an organism in trace amounts. Organic micronutrients are classified as [[vitamin]]s, and inorganic micronutrients are classified as [[mineral (nutrition)|minerals]]. Nutrients can also be classified as essential or nonessential, with essential meaning the body cannot synthesize the nutrient on its own.{{Sfn|Wu|2017|pp=2–4}}

Nutrients are absorbed by the cells and used in metabolic biochemical reactions. These include fueling reactions that create precursor [[metabolite]]s and energy, biosynthetic reactions that convert precursor metabolites into building block molecules, [[polymerization]]s that combine these molecules into macromolecule [[polymer]]s, and assembly reactions that use these polymers to construct cellular structures.{{Sfn|Andrews|2017|pp=70–72}}

=== Nutritional groups ===
{{main|Primary nutritional groups}}
Organisms can be classified by how they obtain carbon and energy. [[Heterotroph]]s are organisms that obtain nutrients by consuming the carbon of other organisms, while [[autotroph]]s are organisms that produce their own nutrients from the carbon of inorganic substances like [[carbon dioxide]]. [[Mixotroph]]s are organisms that can be heterotrophs and autotrophs, including some [[plankton]] and [[carnivorous plant]]s. [[Phototroph]]s obtain energy from light, while [[chemotroph]]s obtain energy by consuming chemical energy from matter. [[Organotroph]]s consume other organisms to obtain electrons, while [[lithotroph]]s obtain electrons from inorganic substances, such as [[water]], [[hydrogen sulfide]], [[dihydrogen]], [[iron(II)]], [[sulfur]], or [[ammonium]].{{Sfn|Andrews|2017|pp=72–79}} Prototrophs can create essential nutrients from other compounds, while [[auxotroph]]s must consume preexisting nutrients.{{Sfn|Andrews|2017|p=93}}

=== Diet ===
{{main|Diet (nutrition)}}In nutrition, the [[Diet (nutrition)|diet]] of an organism is the sum of the foods it eats.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Diet |url=https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/diet |access-date=8 August 2022 |website=[[National Geographic]]}}</ref> A healthy diet improves the physical and mental health of an organism. This requires ingestion and absorption of [[vitamin]]s, [[Dietary mineral|minerals]], [[essential amino acid]]s from protein and [[essential fatty acid]]s from fat-containing food. [[Carbohydrates]], protein and fat play major roles in ensuring the [[quality of life]], [[health]] and [[longevity]] of the organism.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-05-16 |title=Benefits of Healthy Eating |url=https://www.cdc.gov/nutrition/resources-publications/benefits-of-healthy-eating.html |access-date=2023-05-17 |website=Centers for Disease Control and Prevention |language=en-us}}</ref> Some cultures and religions have restrictions on what is acceptable for their diet.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2016-09-19 |title=Religion and dietary choices |url=https://www.independentnurse.co.uk/content/clinical/religion-and-dietary-choices/ |access-date=2023-05-17 |website=Independent Nurse |language=en}}</ref>

=== Nutrient cycle ===
{{main|Nutrient cycle}}A [[nutrient cycle]] is a [[biogeochemical cycle]] involving the movement of inorganic matter through a combination of soil, organisms, air or water, where they are exchanged in organic matter.<ref name=":0">{{cite encyclopedia |last=Allaby |first=Michael |year=2015 |encyclopedia=A Dictionary of Ecology |title=Nutrient cycle |publisher=[[Oxford University Press]] |location=Oxford |edition=5th |url=https://www.oxfordreference.com/view/10.1093/acref/9780191793158.001.0001/acref-9780191793158-e-3868 |isbn=978-0-19-179315-8 |url-access=subscription}} {{subscription required}}</ref> Energy flow is a unidirectional and noncyclic pathway, whereas the movement of [[mineral nutrients]] is cyclic. Mineral cycles include the [[carbon cycle]], [[sulfur cycle]], [[nitrogen cycle]], [[water cycle]], [[phosphorus cycle]], and [[oxygen cycle]], among others that continually recycle along with other mineral nutrients into [[Productivity (ecology)|productive]] ecological nutrition.<ref name=":0" />

[[Biogeochemical cycle]]s that are performed by living organisms and natural processes are [[Water cycle|water]], [[Carbon cycle|carbon]], [[Nitrogen cycle|nitrogen]], [[Phosphorus cycle|phosphorus]], and [[sulfur cycle]]s.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Intro to biogeochemical cycles (article) |url=https://www.khanacademy.org/science/biology/ecology/biogeochemical-cycles/a/introduction-to-biogeochemical-cycles |access-date=2022-11-02 |website=Khan Academy |language=en}}</ref> Nutrient cycles allow these essential elements to return to the environment after being absorbed or consumed.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://bio.libretexts.org/Bookshelves/Botany/Botany_(Ha_Morrow_and_Algiers)/Unit_3%3A_Plant_Physiology_and_Regulation/15%3A_Nutrition_and_Soils/15.03%3A_Nutrient_Cycles#:~:text=Nutrient%20cycles%2C%20also%20known%20as,to%20plants%20and%20other%20organisms | title=4.3.3: Nutrient Cycles | date=29 May 2020 }}</ref> Without proper nutrient cycling, there would be risk of change in oxygen levels, climate, and ecosystem function.{{fact|date=November 2024}}

=== Foraging ===
{{Main|Foraging}}
[[File:BonoboFishing04.jpeg|thumb|A [[bonobo]] fishing for [[termite]]s with a prepared stick]]
Foraging is the process of seeking out nutrients in the environment. It may also be defined to include the subsequent use of the resources. Some organisms, such as animals and bacteria, can navigate to find nutrients, while others, such as plants and fungi, extend outward to find nutrients. Foraging may be random, in which the organism seeks nutrients without method, or it may be systematic, in which the organism can go directly to a food source.{{Sfn|Andrews|2017|pp=83–85}} Organisms are able to detect nutrients through [[taste]] or other forms of [[nutrient sensing]], allowing them to regulate nutrient intake.{{Sfn|Simpson|Raubenheimer|2012|p=36}} [[Optimal foraging theory]] is a model that explains foraging behavior as a [[cost–benefit analysis]] in which an animal must maximize the gain of nutrients while minimizing the amount of time and energy spent foraging. It was created to analyze the foraging habits of animals, but it can also be extended to other organisms.{{Sfn|Andrews|2017|p=16}} Some organisms are specialists that are adapted to forage for a single food source, while others are generalists that can consume a variety of food sources.{{Sfn|Andrews|2017|p=98}}