Detritus food chains, Biology

Assignment Help:

Detritus Food Chains

Detritus food chains begin with dead organic matter which is an important source of energy. A large amount of organic matter is contributed by the death of plants, plant parts, animals and their excretion products. These types of food chains are present in all ecosystems but they are over dominating in forest ecosystems and shallow water communities. Various species of microscopic fungi, bacteria and other saprophytes play a prominent role in decomposing organic matter to obtain energy needed for their survival and growth. In this process they release various nutrients, locked in dead organic matter, which are used readily by the green plants. Detritus food chains are interconnected with grazing food chains and other auxiliary food chains through certain specific common organisms to permit crossing over of energy and material flow from one circuit to another.

For example, cattle do not assimilate all of the energy stored in plants, undigested residues in faeces become available for the decomposers and the detritivores. Detritus food chains are located mainly in the soil or in the segments of aquatic ecosystems. They form an essential component of natural ecosystems and are necessary for self-sustenance and for maintaining ecological balance. Detritus food chains can be of great practical value for modern man for sewage treatment and control of water pollution. Most of the natural ecosystems possess both grazing and detritus types of food chains. Their relative importance however, varies from one ecosystem to another. In terrestrial and shallow water ecosystems, detritus food chains dominate because a major proportion of the annual energy flow passes through this circuit. In case of tidal marshes, almost 90 per cent of the primary production is routed through the detritus food chains. In deep water aquatic systems rapid turnover of organisms and high rate of harvest are responsible for the dominance of grazing food chains.


Related Discussions:- Detritus food chains

Single pair of alleles, Give three examples of human disorders which are ca...

Give three examples of human disorders which are caused by the action of a single pair of alleles. In every case say whether the harmful allele is dominant or recessive to the non-

Describe the pulmonary artery, Q. Describe the pulmonary artery? The ma...

Q. Describe the pulmonary artery? The main pulmonary artery is seen on the PA view, as its left border forms the pulmonary bay. The right pulmonary artery runs horizontally to

Show appearance of food product, Q. Show Appearance of food product? Ap...

Q. Show Appearance of food product? Appearance can be judged by the eye. Appearance factors include such things as size, colour, uniformity, absence of any defect, shape, whole

Explain about selection of healing abutment, Selection of healing abutment ...

Selection of healing abutment It is done depending upon the tissue thickness. Tissue thickness can be measured similar to ridge mapping or sounding procedure, wherein after an

Describe about coronary reactive hyperemia, Q. Describe about coronary reac...

Q. Describe about coronary reactive hyperemia? Myocardium depends almost completely on aerobic metabolism. Occlusion of a coronary artery even briefly produces an increase in c

Explain micronutrient, Which one of the following is not a micronutrient? ...

Which one of the following is not a micronutrient? 1. Molybdenum 2. Magnesium 3. Zinc 4. Boron. Magnesium

How much nacl can be made using 30g of nacl, How much of a 10% w/v of nacl ...

How much of a 10% w/v of nacl can be made using 30g of nacl? Please show all steps.

Biology, how can i get an demo assignment to solve?

how can i get an demo assignment to solve?

Methods of solid waste disposal, Commonly adapted different disposal method...

Commonly adapted different disposal methods by the municipal corporations are: (a)   Open dumping (b)   Land filling (c)    Sanitary land filling pyrolysis (d)   Incine

Write Your Message!

Captcha
Free Assignment Quote

Assured A++ Grade

Get guaranteed satisfaction & time on delivery in every assignment order you paid with us! We ensure premium quality solution document along with free turntin report!

All rights reserved! Copyrights ©2019-2020 ExpertsMind IT Educational Pvt Ltd