The taking in of water and dissolved minerals and nutrients across cell membranes. Contrast with ingestion .
Most anaerobic organisms are bacteria or archaeans .
Any organism that is able to manufacture its own food. Most plants are autotrophs, as are many protists and bacteria . Contrast with consumer . Autotrophs may be photoautotrophic , using light energy to manufacture food, or chemoautotrophic , using chemical energy. Organisms that live on the bottom of the ocean are called benthic organisms.