How do fungi obtain their nutrients?

Fungi obtain their nutrients primarily through the process of breaking down organic substances and absorbing the resulting nutrients. Unlike plants, which produce their own food through photosynthesis, fungi release enzymes into their environment that decompose complex organic materials such as dead plants, animals, and other organic matter. This decomposition process allows fungi to absorb simpler molecules directly through their cell walls.

This method of nutrient acquisition plays a significant role in ecosystems as fungi act as decomposers, recycling nutrients back into the soil, which benefits other organisms. While some fungi may interact with living organisms in a mutually beneficial way or even parasitically, their primary mechanism for nutritional intake is through decomposition and absorption. The other options describe processes that do not accurately reflect the methods fungi use to obtain nutrients, focusing instead on mechanisms utilized by plants or animals.