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

How would you perform abo blood grouping, Question 1 How would you perform...

Question 1 How would you perform ABO blood grouping? Add a note on advantages and disadvantages of each method. Also discuss the precautions you may take to avoid errors in variou

Periannular extension of infection, Occur in 10 per cent to 40 per cent of ...

Occur in 10 per cent to 40 per cent of all native-valve IE, and complicates aortic IE more commonly than mitral or tricuspid IE. Periannular infection is of even greater concern wi

Budding - types of asexual reproduction, Budding - Types of Asexual Reprodu...

Budding - Types of Asexual Reproduction In reproduction through budding, small groups of cells form buds in some part or parts of the parent animal. The bud grows, differentia

What is class asteroidea, What is Class Asteroidea ? Sea stars are prob...

What is Class Asteroidea ? Sea stars are probably one of the most recognizable of all Echinoderms. Often beautifully colored and symmetrical, they are predators that feed vorac

Nastic and epinastic responses, Nastic and Epinastic Responses Parato...

Nastic and Epinastic Responses Paratonic variation movements of plant parts in which direction of movement is independent of the direction of stimulus. Nastic responses are l

Hypospadias, Hypospadias Hypospadias is the most common congenital an...

Hypospadias Hypospadias is the most common congenital anomaly of the penis. In this uretheral opening is situated on ventral side of the shaft of penis in one or several posi

How are artificial and natural pearls created, Q. How are artificial and na...

Q. How are artificial and natural pearls created? Pearls are made from small strange particles that deposit between the mantle and the shell of the oyster. These particles trig

Explain procedure for capsule staining in a culture, Explain Procedure for ...

Explain Procedure for Capsule Staining in a Culture? We have learnt that Capsule staining can be undertaken either by negative staining or Anthony method. Now carry out the exe

Explain the scanning electron microscope, Explain the Scanning Electron Mic...

Explain the Scanning Electron Microscope It can be used to observe intact cells or cell components directly. Then sections are not necessary. It is used for visualizing surface

Define fat requirements in human body, Define Fat requirements in human bod...

Define Fat requirements in human body? There is no change in fat digestibility at altitude of

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