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Plants don't really "eat", but they do use some of the "food" they make. The main product of photosynthesis is carbohydrates, which are sugars that are used by the plant for two main purposes:
1. Breaking them back down into carbon dioxide and water for energy (cellular respiration)
2. One particular sugar, glucose, is used to make starch (for storage) and cellulose (which forms the cell walls of the plant, giving it strength).
However, not all of the carbohydrates are used by the plant or even intended for direct use by the plant. Some of them are used to make plant features that attract animals, such as nectar (to attract insects to pollinate the plant) or fruits (which attract animals that eat the fruit, and therefore help to spread the seeds in their droppings).
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What process that plants and animals use sunlight to make food?
Green plants use a process called photosynthesis to make food from sunlight. Only green plants can make their own food. Other plants (like mushrooms) and animals do not make their own food, but get nutrition from green plants (or dead green plants). Animals do not make food from sunlight. If they could, they would not need to eat.
Do herbivores have photosynthesis?
No, herbivores do not have the ability to perform photosynthesis. Photosynthesis is a process carried out by plants, algae, and some bacteria to make their own food using sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide. Herbivores obtain their energy by consuming plants or plant-based foods.
A fungus differs from green plants in that it does not make?
A fungus differs from green plants in that it does not make its own food through photosynthesis. Instead, fungi are heterotrophic organisms that obtain nutrients by absorbing dissolved organic matter from their environment.
Why do you need more plants than animals in the food pyramid?
Other than fungi, plants don't eat other plants so you need animals in the food chain. This includes herbivores to eat the plants. Carnivores to eat the herbivores. Omnivores eat both plants and animals.
What do saltwater plants eat?
Saltwater plants typically obtain their nutrients through photosynthesis, using sunlight, carbon dioxide, and water to make their own food. They do not "eat" in the same way that animals do.
