Food web - ecosystem, Biology

Assignment Help:

Food Web - Ecosystem

A plant may serve as a food source for many herbivores simultaneously, e.g. grass plants can support deer, cow, grasshopper or rabbit. Similarly a herbivore may bc food source for many different carnivorous species. Also food availability and preferences of herbivores as well as carnivores may shift seasonally (e.g., we eat mangoes in the summer and oranges in the winter). In an ecosystem, when all interconnections between food chains are mapped out, they form a food web.

1126_Food Web.png

Figure:  A simplified version of a food web.

A food web illustrates, all possible transfers of energy and nutrients among the organisms in an ecosystem, whereas a food chain traces only one pathway in the food web. The food web for most communities is very complex, involving innumerable kids of living organisms. With many interlocking food chains the community remains stable even if one or more of these relations are altered. For example, in a stream-side ecosystem if the grasshoppers become scarce or their population is wiped out because of some calamity, the frogs preying on grasshoppers are not forced to die or move out of that place. They can instead feed on other organisms such as flies or butterflies. Obviously, then a food web introduces a strong element of stability into an ecosystem. Larger the number of components involved, the more stable the ecosystem is.


Related Discussions:- Food web - ecosystem

Excretory system, is thare any excretory system found in echinoderms

is thare any excretory system found in echinoderms

Synthesis of triacylglycerols , Triacylglycerols are synthesized from fatty...

Triacylglycerols are synthesized from fatty acyl CoAs and glycerol 3-phosphate.The   glycolytic   intermediate   dihydroxyacetone phosphate   is   first reduces   to glycerol   3-p

Explain the predominantly diurnal, Evidence  Similarities between 79° a...

Evidence  Similarities between 79° and 70°, eg Feeding activity continuous / continues for 24 hours during polar day (summer months) feeding activity more intense i

Explain the cladosporium - fungi and yeast, Explain the Cladosporium - Fung...

Explain the Cladosporium - Fungi and Yeast? Classification Kingdom - Mycetae Division - Amastigomycota Form - Class - Deauteromycetes Form - Order - Moniliales F

Give three examples of abiotic factors, Give three examples of abiotic fact...

Give three examples of abiotic factors and explain how they interact. Abiotic factors contain temperature, humidity, pH, salinity, O 2 concentration, amount of sunlight, avail

The smooth er and rough er are similar functions, What functions of the smo...

What functions of the smooth ER and rough ER are similar?

Growth and development, details and terms used in growth and development?

details and terms used in growth and development?

Neuron, It arises from a one embryonic cell known as neuroblast Types of...

It arises from a one embryonic cell known as neuroblast Types of neuron:  According to number of process¬ (a) Unipolar: Only axon is there. e.g. mesencephalic nucleus. (b)

Show major treatments of diabetes mellitus, Q. What are the major treatment...

Q. What are the major treatments of diabetes mellitus? The general goal of the diabetes curing is to keep normal glycemic levels. Type I diabetes is treated with parenteral

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