Final answer:
Fungi distinguish themselves by absorbing nutrients from the environment after external digestion with exoenzymes. They are heterotrophs with cell walls made of chitin and store glycogen for energy.
Step-by-step explanation:
The distinguishing characteristic of fungi is c-obtaining nutrients by absorbing them from the environment. Unlike plants that convert light energy into sugars (photosynthesis), fungi are heterotrophs and they get their nutrition through a process of external digestion and absorption. Fungi release exoenzymes into the environment to break down complex organic compounds. Then, the smaller molecules produced are absorbed by the fungus through structures such as mycelia, which have a high surface area-to-volume ratio for efficient absorption.
Fungi do not ingest nutrients like many animals; instead, they rely on these external enzymes to perform the digestion outside their cells. Their cell walls contain chitin, and they store carbohydrates as glycogen, similar to animals. However, their mode of nutrition is distinct as they play a critical role as decomposers in ecosystems, breaking down dead and decaying material.
Fungi obtain nutrients by absorbing them from the environment. Unlike plants that use photosynthesis or animals that ingest and internally digest their food, fungi release enzymes into the environment to break down nutrients. The smaller molecules produced by this external digestion are then absorbed through the large surface area of the mycelium.