Detrital food web

Definition

Detrital food webs are ecological networks that decompose and recycle organic matter from dead plants, animals, and waste products. These webs play a crucial role in nutrient cycling and energy flow within ecosystems.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Detrital food webs rely on decomposers like bacteria and fungi to break down organic material.
2. These systems help convert dead organic matter into simpler substances that can be reused by primary producers.
3. Detritivores, such as earthworms and certain insects, are key players in detrital food webs.
4. They operate alongside grazing food webs to maintain ecosystem balance.
5. Energy transfer in detrital food webs is less direct compared to grazing food webs.

Review Questions

• What organisms primarily decompose organic matter in detrital food webs?
• How do detrital food webs contribute to nutrient cycling within an ecosystem?
• Name two types of organisms that act as detritivores.

Related terms

Decomposer: Organisms like bacteria and fungi that break down dead material into simpler substances.

Nutrient Cycling:

The process by which nutrients are recycled through the environment, often facilitated by decomposers.

Grazing Food Web: A type of food web where energy is transferred from primary producers directly to herbivores and then to predators.