In any biocenosis, there is a cycle of substances. This means that they are constantly moving, as well as moving from inanimate nature to living and vice versa. The source of energy for this process is the sun. Its energy during the cycle is first converted into energy of chemical bonds, then into mechanical and then into thermal energy due to the nutritional relationships of organisms within the biocenosis.
These relationships are also called trophic chains.
General concept
For a complete study of the biocenotic relationships of different organisms in science, the concept of the food chain is used. Biology gives it the following definition: it is a series of species or groups of organisms between which food relations are ordered, and each previous link in the chain is food for the next.
Food Chain Links
There are several links in any power circuit .
The first link is the producers, or manufacturers. Their role is played by autotrophic plants, which in the process of photosynthesis transform solar energy into the energy of chemical bonds.
The second link is represented by consumers. These include herbivores (primary consumers) and carnivores (secondary and tertiary consumers) animals.
The third link is reducers. They are represented by microorganisms that decompose organic residues into inorganic substances.
Ecological pyramid
In the transition from one trophic (nutrient) link to another, there is always a tenfold loss of substances and energy. This is considered a regularity and in ecology is called the rule of the ecological pyramid.
At the base of the pyramid are producers. Above them are the primary consumers. The next step is secondary and tertiary consumers. At the top are predators. The height of the pyramid may vary depending on the length of the food chain. Usually it does not exceed 4-5 links due to the rapid decrease in energy.
It is important that the composition of each link may include several species that eat monotonous food. And animals that eat different foods may not have the same position in the chain or even enter different chains.
Types of Food Chains
In all biocenoses, certain types of food chains are represented. They bear the following names: dendritic, pasture. Each species has its own characteristics and begins with certain organisms. So, the pasture food chain is an example of nutritional relationships that start with green plants capable of photosynthesis. Such a chain usually underlies the biocenosis. The dendritic species begins with organisms that use the released energy when they process spent organic substances.
Food Chain Examples
The trophic interactions of organisms in biocenoses are quite complex. Often there are parallel power circuits. Examples: herbaceous vegetation - small rodents - predatory animals; herbaceous vegetation - herbivorous (ungulate) animals - large predatory animals. Such chains unite representatives of different tiers of biocenoses and make stable connections between them. Interaction data is a pasture food chain. The example above shows the sequence of building links in it.
A complex system of trophic relationships within a biocenosis ensures its stability, dynamism and integrity. In case of imbalance within the species (reduction in its number as a result of an epidemic, human activity), which is a link in the chain, a complete or partial destruction of the entire biocenosis occurs.
What is a pasture food chain? An example is the following: a person exterminated small rodents to preserve their grain lands. As a result, many predators died for lack of food, for which they served as food. Further, reducers began to process a little organic (dead) residues and produce an insufficient amount of mineral substances. The consequence of this over time was sparse vegetation due to a lack of inorganic substances. As a result, the entire biocenosis can become impoverished and turn into a different type.
Also, the reservoir is an interesting and visual relationship between organisms. This is also an intra-pastoral food chain. Example: they cleaned a pond, as a result of which algae and zooplankton disappeared. The consequence of this was the extinction of small fish that feed on them. Further, the extinction of predatory fish occurs. As a result, the number of all microorganisms decreases, the species diversity of plants and animals, the entire system is disrupted. Its restoration will require considerable time and certain conditions.
Thus, nutritional relationships within the biocenosis are the main factors of its stability and development.