Final answer:
Saprophytic plants and fungi absorb nutrients from decaying organic matter, playing critical roles as decomposers and recyclers in ecosystems. Carnivorous plants supplement their nutrient intake by digesting prey in nutrient-poor soils.
Step-by-step explanation:
The plants that absorb nutrition directly from decaying organic matter are known as saprophytes. These organisms do not perform photosynthesis due to the absence of chlorophyll and instead, obtain their nutrients by breaking down dead or decaying matter using specialized enzymes. The decomposed material is rendered into simpler forms which the plants can absorb. Saprophytes play an essential role in ecosystems as they help in recycling nutrients, making them available for other organisms.
Some plants have evolved extreme adaptations to nutrient-poor environments, like carnivorous plants, which supplement nutrient intake by capturing insects and other small creatures. Carnivorous plants such as the Venus flytrap and sundews absorb nutrients, especially nitrogen and phosphorus, through the digestion of their prey rather than using them as an energy source. On the other hand, fungi are major players in decomposition and nutrient cycling, using their saprotrophic lifestyle to gain nutrition from dead organic matter by releasing enzymes that break it down into more accessible forms.
Overall, the exchange of nutrients in both terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems is significantly influenced by these organisms, which play a dual role as decomposers and nutrient recyclers.