Final answer:
Animals, fungi, and some microbes are heterotrophs, meaning they consume organic matter for carbon and energy. Fungi are unique as they absorb nutrients from living or decaying organisms and are vital decomposers in ecosystems.
Step-by-step explanation:
Animals, fungi, and many other microbes are heterotrophs, organisms that must consume organic matter to obtain carbon and energy. These organisms are also known as consumers because they rely on other organisms for sustenance.
Fungi are a unique group of heterotrophs as they absorb nutrients directly from other organisms, including decaying organic matter, making them critical agents in nutrient recycling within ecosystems. Unlike plants which are autotrophs, fungi do not photosynthesize but instead obtain their energy and carbon from organic compounds.
Fungi share common traits with animals, such as having cell walls composed of chitin and storing carbohydrates as glycogen. They are essential decomposers in ecosystems, breaking down complex organic materials into simpler molecules, thus playing a vital role in the cycling of nutrients.