What type of nutrition describes an organism that makes its own food as well as absorbs nutrients from other sources?

The term that accurately describes an organism capable of making its own food while also absorbing nutrients from other sources is mixotrophic nutrition. This type of nutrition is notable for combining both autotrophic and heterotrophic methods.

Organisms exhibiting mixotrophic nutrition can utilize photosynthesis or chemosynthesis to produce their own energy and organic compounds, akin to autotrophs. However, they also have the capability to absorb organic compounds from other organisms, akin to heterotrophs, particularly when environmental conditions are not conducive to autotrophic processes.

For example, certain protists and some plants, like the carnivorous Venus flytrap, can photosynthesize but also engage in nutrient absorption by capturing and digesting prey. This dual capability enables them to thrive in various environments where resources might be limited or when light availability fluctuates.

In contrast, parasitic nutrition refers specifically to organisms that derive nutrients from a host, ultimately harming it. Heterotrophic nutrition strictly describes organisms that cannot synthesize their own food and must consume other organisms for energy. Autotrophic nutrition, on the other hand, pertains exclusively to those that produce their own food through processes like photosynthesis or chemosynthesis, without needing to absorb nutrients from other sources.