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

What will happen to membranes, What might happen to membranes if many -OH g...

What might happen to membranes if many -OH groups were added to the tails of phospholipids?

Define primary motor cortex corticospinal interneuron a, Define Primary mot...

Define Primary motor cortex corticospinal interneuron A Primary motor cortex (M1) corticospinal interneuron A that produces action potentials during movements of the big toe of

What is the probability that the child will have pku, PKU is a recessive di...

PKU is a recessive disorder. Suppose two people who were heterozygous for PKU married and had a child. What is the probability that the child will have PKU?

Unified cell theory, Unified Cell Theory The present unified cell theo...

Unified Cell Theory The present unified cell theory states that All living things are composed of either a single Cell or of the cells and cell products. The cell is a m

What do you mean by hypertension, Q. What do you mean by Hypertension? ...

Q. What do you mean by Hypertension? Hypertension is one of the major risk factors for cardiovascular disease. It is the most common public health problem and often referred to

Explain restriction endonucleases are enzymes, Restriction endonucleases ar...

Restriction endonucleases are enzymes which: 1. make cuts at specific positions within the DNA molecule 2. recognize a specific nucleotide sequence for binding of DNA ligase

Explain the term intracellular filaments, Explain the term Intracellular Fi...

Explain the term Intracellular Filaments? Intracellular Filaments : The cell contains fibrous proteins which serve to give the cell its shape and internal organization and fo

Calculate the electric potential at the midpoint of the base, The three cha...

The three charges in the figure below are at the vertices of an isosceles triangle. Let q = 7.00 nC and calculate the electric potential at the midpoint of the base.

What is subphylum vertebrata explain, What is Subphylum Vertebrata explain?...

What is Subphylum Vertebrata explain? This large group of animals takes its name from its distinguishing feature: the vertebral column, or the backbone. The backbone made of se

Amylase stock solution, Assume that you have 1 mL of a solution amylase (an...

Assume that you have 1 mL of a solution amylase (an enzyme) at a concentration of 15 mg protein/mL. Calculate the volume of diluting buffer that you would have to add to 1.0 mL 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