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

Respiration, what is the bet way to asses energy production in the body of ...

what is the bet way to asses energy production in the body of an athlete?

Atp molecules are produced for each glucose molecule, How many ATP molecule...

How many ATP molecules are produced for each glucose molecule used in fermentation? How many ATP molecules are produced for each glucose molecule used in aerobic respiration? I

Determine the dispersion of pollutants, Is the upward move of warm air good...

Is the upward move of warm air good or bad for the dispersion of pollutants? The upward movement of warm air is a natural method of dispersion of pollutants. The air near the g

What are the genotype and phenotype, For Dalmation dog, the spotted conditi...

For Dalmation dog, the spotted condition is dominant to non-spotted. a) Using a Punnet square, show a cross between two heterozygous parents. b) A spotted female Dalmation dog is m

Describe the formation of egg cells from germ cells, Q. Indicating the name...

Q. Indicating the name and respective ploidy of each involved cell how can the formation of egg cells from germ cells be described? The formation of egg cells begins with a ger

Pneumonia, P n e u mo n i a It is inflammation of pulmonary pare...

P n e u mo n i a It is inflammation of pulmonary parenchyma, usually accompanied by inflammation of bronchioles, and is characterized by cough, increased respiratory rat

Do octopus and squids have exoskeleton, Do octopus and squids have exoskele...

Do octopus and squids have exoskeleton? Octopus and squids normally do not produce external shell (some squid species can have an internal shell). One cephalopod group, the nau

Digestion in coakroach, Awhat is the function of malpigrium tubulessk quest...

Awhat is the function of malpigrium tubulessk question #Minimum 100 words accepted#

Explain phylum sporozoa, Phylum Sporozoa 1) Thcy do not liavc any exter...

Phylum Sporozoa 1) Thcy do not liavc any external locomotory dcvice and move by wriggling. 2) Reproduction by producing numerous spores. 3) All are parasites of animals,

Calorific value, Calorific value is one of the most important characteristi...

Calorific value is one of the most important characteristics of a fuel. It judges the efficiency of fuel. Calorific value is defined as "the total quantity of heat liberated, wh

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