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

Illustrate fundamental sexual life cycles, Q. What are the three fundamenta...

Q. What are the three fundamental sexual life cycles studied in Biology? Which of them corresponds to metagenesis? Which of them is the human life cycle? Sexual reproduction ma

Class bivalvia, Class Bivalvia Body in a bilohed mantle enclosed in a...

Class Bivalvia Body in a bilohed mantle enclosed in a two-valved shell; head reduced; mouth with labial palps but no radula; foot wedge-shaped; plate-like gills; sexes separa

Define colonization of the gut - probiotic effect, Define colonization of t...

Define colonization of the gut - probiotic effect? It is not clear how probiotics influence the flora and produce a beneficial effect. However, colonization of the gut appears

Define isomerases, Isomerases These  enzymes (code  EC 5)  catalyze geo...

Isomerases These  enzymes (code  EC 5)  catalyze geometric  or  structural  changes  within  a molecule. According  to the  type of  isomerism,  they  may be  called  racemases

What are the elements that constitute the internal ear, Q. What are the ele...

Q. What are the elements that constitute the internal ear? What are the functions of those structures? In the internal ear there are the semicircular canals and the cochlea. Th

Principles of polymerase chain reaction , The PCR   (polymerase   chai...

The PCR   (polymerase   chain   reaction)   is   an   extremely   simple   as   immensely powerful methods.  It permits enormous  amplification  of any particular  sequence of DNA

Difference between spermatocyte ii and spermatocyte i, Q. What is the diffe...

Q. What is the difference between spermatocyte II and spermatocyte I? The spermatocyte I (2n) undergoes the first division of meiosis (meiosis I) originating two spermatocyte I

Lipids, How are lipids classified?

How are lipids classified?

What is the heterophagic intracellular digestion, Q. What is the heterophag...

Q. What is the heterophagic intracellular digestion and How is this process accomplished? Heterophagic intracellular digestion is the breaking into smaller substances of extern

Explain nucleotides, Nucleotides Compounds  consisting of a  nitrogenou...

Nucleotides Compounds  consisting of a  nitrogenous  base,  a  pentose sugar and a phosphate group.

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