“Plants and algae get energy from the sun, and animals get their energy from eating plants, algae, and other animals. It’s simple, right? Nope! Nature likes exceptions. Meet the mixotrophs.”
If you’ve ever seen a Venus fly trap, you’ve seen a mixotroph, an organism that can use both phototropy and phagotropy to get its nutrients and energy. These life forms don’t need to choose between photosynthesis and the ingestion of organic matter.
Sundews and phytoplankton are also mixotrophs. Learn about them with this mixotrophy video from the Hakai Institute‘s Long Story Short video series.
Then watch these videos next:
• Venus flytraps count to avoid being tricked
• The wild world of carnivorous plants
• What’s inside the stomach of a carnivorous Pitcher Plant?
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