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

Define preoperative care prior to endodontic microsurgery, Define Preoperat...

Define Preoperative Care Prior to Endodontic Microsurgery a.Thorough medical history "consultation and permission from the physician is the patient has systemic disease(s) and

Explain biological aspects of nutrition, Explain biological aspects of nutr...

Explain biological aspects of nutrition Traditionally nutritionists have focused largely (or almost fully) on . However, we have realized over the years, that physiological bio

Into which phyla is the fungi kingdom divided, Fungi are classified in thei...

Fungi are classified in their own kingdom. Into which phyla is the fungi kingdom divided? Into which of those phyla are mushrooms classified? The kingdom fungi is separated in

Omega-3 essential fatty acids, Q. Omega-3 Essential Fatty Acids? Omega-...

Q. Omega-3 Essential Fatty Acids? Omega-3 essential fatty acids found in flax and cold-water fish help fight inflammation. For a condition such as diverticulitis, it may be wis

ECOLOGICAL PYRAMIDS, Ask questionLIMITATION OF ECOLOGICAL PYRAMIDS #Minimu...

Ask questionLIMITATION OF ECOLOGICAL PYRAMIDS #Minimum 100 words accepted#

Define triglycerides, Q. Define Triglycerides? Triglycerides are produc...

Q. Define Triglycerides? Triglycerides are produced by the esterification of glycerol with three fatty acid molecules. They are the body's major energy store, particularly in a

Explain the storage of vitamin e, Explain the Storage of Vitamin E? Vi...

Explain the Storage of Vitamin E? Vitamin E is mainly stored in muscles and adipose tissue. Vitamin E content of erythrocytes is about 20 percent of that in plasma and there i

What is the difference between diffusion and osmosis, Q. What is the differ...

Q. What is the difference between diffusion and osmosis? Osmosis is the phenomenon of movement of solvent particles in general, water from a region of lower solute concentratio

Write the definition of counselling, Q. Write the definition of counselling...

Q. Write the definition of counselling? The counselling process, involves various steps in a sequence as given below: 1. Rapport-Building 2. Locating the Problem 4. Pl

International organization and zoonoses, International organization and zoo...

International organization and zoonoses In 1962, the Food and Agriculture Organization and the World Health Organization created the Codex Alimentarius Commission (Codex) to e

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