In any land or navy ecosystem, communities of living beings live. These living beings establish different types of links between them depending on their nutrition, distinguishing between producing organisms, consumers or decomponering. We define a trophic level as the set of organisms that share the same type of food within the ecosystem. As the way of feeding on living beings and what we know as food chain is somewhat vital for the balance on our planet, in this ecology article, we talk about the trophic relationships of ecosystems, their definition and examples.
What is an ecosystem
An ecosystem is defined as the set of biotic communities that inhabit the same area (populations of living organisms) and Abiotic conditions They affect them. The term ecosystem also includes the interactions between the living beings of that community and between these organisms and the physical environment. We say, therefore, that an ecosystem includes biotope (physical space and its conditions) and biozynosis (community of living beings and their interactions).
In an ecosystem a constant flow of energies and chemical compounds between the environment and organisms is established, defining nutritious or biogeochemical cycles such as water, nitrogen, phosphorus or carbon. These cycles are indispensable for the life and maintenance of these ecosystems.
In these other articles you can consult definitions and examples of ecosystems:
- Terrestrial ecosystem
- Aquatic ecosystem
- Mixed ecosystem
The importance of trophic relationships in ecosystems
In ecosystems there are constant changes in their functions and structures. These changes occur due to interactions between living beings and with the environmentwhich in turn favor the establishment of new living organisms. The changes and substitutions of some organisms by others within the ecosystems are called successions and occur in an orderly manner, until finally reaching a stabilized ecosystem which is in complete balance with environmental conditions.
Climax community is defined to that community that is established, it remains for a while and replaces in the course of the successions, that is, they are not communities that last long over time.
We differentiate a primary succession such as the one that begins with the total absence of living beings and completely naked surfaces exposed to the environment. The primary successions are established after devastating events such as volcanic eruptions or movements of a glacier. While a secondary succession is established after the destruction of the ecosystem as in the case of a fire or flood. Secondary successions are able to initiate ecosystem. In addition, Trophic relationships in ecosystems are part of the balance of these.
Autotrophic organisms or producers in trophic relationships
These organisms are responsible for create organic molecules from inorganic compounds simpler, for which they use a source of energy that is usually the sun.
In most ecosystems, they are the plants through photosynthesisthose that play this role (or aquatic plants, such as algae, in marine ecosystems). These organisms play a very important role within the ecosystem, as they are food source for other ecosystem organisms.
Consuming organisms or heterotrophs in trophic relationships
These organisms consume and obtain their energy from the organic matter produced by the producing organisms. However, in this category we must differentiate herbivores or primary consumers, carnivores or secondary consumers and omnivores.
- Primary or herbivorous consumers: They are those that feed directly from producing organisms, their parts or their fruits. In this group there would be hares, rabbits, cows or horses.
- Secondary or carnivorous consumers: They are those that feed on other consuming organisms. In this group there would be hyenas, felines or eagles.
- Omnivorous consumers or organisms: They are those that cover both categories, that is, they consume both primary and secondary organisms. In this group there would be dogs, pigs or the human being. Know more examples of omnivorous animals here.
In addition, within the carnivores, there would also be the scavengers, who would be those that feed on dead animals. In this group there would be scavenger beetles, flies, vultures and other scavengers.
Decomposing or detritivorous organisms in trophic relationships
These organisms play a very important role within ecosystems, as they feed and Decompose organic matter that consume other organisms and the transform again in inorganic mattersthus closing the cycle of the elements. They are very important in agriculture. Within these organisms we can find bacteria, fungi, insects, worms or slugs, among others.
It is worth mentioning that within an ecosystem, energy flows from autotrophic organisms to heterotrophs, while Decomponent organisms They are necessary to complete the cycle.
If you want to read more articles similar to Trophic relationships of ecosystems: definition and exampleswe recommend that you enter our category of ecosystems.
