Basic Processes
I selected “Acquire and process nutrients” as the basic physiological process. Bacteria have numerous ways to receive energy needed for their growth. Bacteria acquire energy from nutrients by means of electron transport phosphorylation, also known as respiration. Apart from oxygen, bacteria have the ability to make use of a range of molecules in the role of terminal electron acceptors. Bacteria can in fact make use of an even wider variety of molecules in the role of electron donors. Electron acceptors as well as electron donors can be organic compounds like fumarate, or even inorganic material like metals.
Scientists estimate that grasshoppers need the same ten essential amino acids that mammals need to survive, grow, and reproduce. In the insect world, grasshoppers rank the highest in total nitrogen content in the body, but it is surprising to note that they usually consume food that has very low levels of nitrogen. The source of high protein in grasshoppers is low soluble-proteins from food plants, so grasshoppers have to cover the protein concentration difference through consumption and conversion of sufficient quantities of food material.
Fish are known to have high levels of efficiency in protein synthesis, and they require much lower amounts of energy to maintain their body temperature when compared to bears (mammals). Fish need diets that constitute of low energy/ high protein foods. Fish have the ability to absorb minerals from water, and they need ω-3 fatty acids in their diet; however, they lack the ability to synthesize ascorbic acid.
Bears on the other hand tend to feed in an opportunitstic manner, eating a wide variety of animal and vegetable foods. During spring, bears tend to eat leaves, flowers, and roots; however, they cannot eat mature plants and digest tougher cellulose because they lack the characteristic complexity of a real herbivore. Bears also kill and eat young moose, deer fawns, and small-sized birds...