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

Tell us about three kinds of dna, There are 3 types of DNA sequences. Genom...

There are 3 types of DNA sequences. Genomic DNA comes from the genome and haves both genes and extragenic material. cDNA is reverse transcribed from mRNA and corresponds only

Define classification of weight imbalance, Define Classification of Weight ...

Define Classification of Weight Imbalance? Obesity is defined as a condition with accumulation of excess body fat. Do you think that a measure of how much fat a person has in i

Determine the recombination frequency of genes, Why does the recombination ...

Why does the recombination frequency of genes vary with the distance between them in the chromosome? The farther the distance among the loci of two genes in a chromosome the h

Why are vaccines used in the prevention, Q. Why are vaccines used in the pr...

Q. Why are vaccines used in the prevention but not in the treatment of infections? Why can antivenom serums be used in prevention and treatment? Vaccines are not used in the tr

Explain nutritional effects of hemicelluloses, Nutritional effects Of Hemic...

Nutritional effects Of Hemicelluloses Hemicelluloses are classified under the category of soluble dietary fibers.  Hemicellulose is an indigestible complex carbohydrate that ab

Impediments to infuse biology - lack of trained people, Define Impediments ...

Define Impediments to infuse biology - Lack of trained people? At present, biologists as a rule have not been trained sufficiently in quantitative approaches. A heavy dose of m

Special anatomic considerations in posterior maxilla, What are the special ...

What are the special anatomic considerations in posterior maxilla?  Posterior maxilla has very poor  quality of bone demanding special consideration in implant placement. These

Hormones secreted by pituitary gland, (a) Hormones of the Anterior lobe - ...

(a) Hormones of the Anterior lobe - The anteriorIobe of the pituitary gland secretes the following hormones, most of them are trophic hormones. (i ) Somatotropic hormone o

Reproduction, what is the difference between anisogamy and oogamy?

what is the difference between anisogamy and oogamy?

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