Distinguish
between
(a)
Grazing food chain and detritus food chain
(b)
Production and decomposition
(c)
Upright and inverted pyramid
(d)
Food chain and Food web
(e)
Litter and detritus
(f)
Primary and secondary productivity
Distinguish between
(a) Grazing food chain and detritus food chain
(b) Production and decomposition
(c) Upright and inverted pyramid
(d) Food chain and Food web
(e) Litter and detritus
(f) Primary and secondary productivity
(a) Grazing
food chain and detritus food chain
-
Grazing food chain
Detritus food chain
1.
In this food chain, energy is
derived from the Sun.
1.
In this food chain, energy comes
from organic matter (or detritus) generated in trophic levels of
the grazing food chain.
2.
It begins with producers,
present at the first trophic level. The plant biomass is then
eaten by herbivores, which in turn are consumed by a variety of
carnivores.
2.
It begins with detritus such as
dead bodies of animals or fallen leaves, which are then eaten by
decomposers or detritivores. These detritivores are in turn
consumed by their predators.
3.
This food chain is usually
large.
3.
It is usually smaller as
compared to the grazing food chain.
(b) Production
and decomposition
-
Production
Decomposition
1.
It is the rate of producing
organic matter (food) by producers.
2.
It is the process of breaking
down of complex organic matter or biomass from the body of dead
plants and animals with the help of decomposers into organic raw
material such as CO2, H2O, and other
nutrients.
2.
It depends on the photosynthetic
capacity of the producers.
2.
It occurs with the help of
decomposers.
3
Sunlight is required by plants
for primary production.
3.
Sunlight is not required for
decomposition by decomposers
(c) Upright
and inverted pyramid
-
Upright pyramid
Inverted pyramid
1.
The pyramid of energy is always
upright.
1.
The pyramid of biomass and the
pyramid of numbers can be inverted.
2.
In the upright pyramid, the
number and biomass of organisms in the producer level of an
ecosystem is the highest, which keeps on decreasing at each
trophic level in a food chain.
2.
In an inverted pyramid, the
number and biomass of organisms in the producer level of an
ecosystem is the lowest, which keeps on increasing at each tropic
level.
(d) Food
chain and Food web
-
Food chain
Food web
1.
It is a single linear sequence
of organisms.
1.
It contains a number of
interconnected food chains.
2.
Members present at higher
trophic levels feed on single types of organisms.
2.
One organism has alternate food
sources.
(e) Litter
and detritus
-
Litter
Detritus
1.
Litter contains all kinds of
wastes generated above the ground.
1.
Detritus is composed of the
remains of dead plants and animals.
2.
Litter contains both
biodegradable and non-biodegradable matter.
2.
Detritus contains only
biodegradable matter.
(f) Primary
and secondary productivity
-
Primary productivity
Secondary productivity
1.
It is defined as the amount of
organic matter produced by producers per unit area over a period
of time.
1.
It is defined as the rate of
production of organic matter by consumers over a period of time.
(a) Grazing food chain and detritus food chain
-
Grazing food chain
Detritus food chain
1.
In this food chain, energy is derived from the Sun.
1.
In this food chain, energy comes from organic matter (or detritus) generated in trophic levels of the grazing food chain.
2.
It begins with producers, present at the first trophic level. The plant biomass is then eaten by herbivores, which in turn are consumed by a variety of carnivores.
2.
It begins with detritus such as dead bodies of animals or fallen leaves, which are then eaten by decomposers or detritivores. These detritivores are in turn consumed by their predators.
3.
This food chain is usually large.
3.
It is usually smaller as compared to the grazing food chain.
(b) Production and decomposition
-
Production
Decomposition
1.
It is the rate of producing organic matter (food) by producers.
2.
It is the process of breaking down of complex organic matter or biomass from the body of dead plants and animals with the help of decomposers into organic raw material such as CO2, H2O, and other nutrients.
2.
It depends on the photosynthetic capacity of the producers.
2.
It occurs with the help of decomposers.
3
Sunlight is required by plants for primary production.
3.
Sunlight is not required for decomposition by decomposers
(c) Upright and inverted pyramid
-
Upright pyramid
Inverted pyramid
1.
The pyramid of energy is always upright.
1.
The pyramid of biomass and the pyramid of numbers can be inverted.
2.
In the upright pyramid, the number and biomass of organisms in the producer level of an ecosystem is the highest, which keeps on decreasing at each trophic level in a food chain.
2.
In an inverted pyramid, the number and biomass of organisms in the producer level of an ecosystem is the lowest, which keeps on increasing at each tropic level.
(d) Food chain and Food web
-
Food chain
Food web
1.
It is a single linear sequence of organisms.
1.
It contains a number of interconnected food chains.
2.
Members present at higher trophic levels feed on single types of organisms.
2.
One organism has alternate food sources.
(e) Litter and detritus
-
Litter
Detritus
1.
Litter contains all kinds of wastes generated above the ground.
1.
Detritus is composed of the remains of dead plants and animals.
2.
Litter contains both biodegradable and non-biodegradable matter.
2.
Detritus contains only biodegradable matter.
(f) Primary and secondary productivity
-
Primary productivity
Secondary productivity
1.
It is defined as the amount of organic matter produced by producers per unit area over a period of time.
1.
It is defined as the rate of production of organic matter by consumers over a period of time.
