The trophic structure of ecosystems

In this topic

• The three functional groups
• Food (trophic) chains: the two kinds
• Trophic levels and the food web
• Chain length, the 10% rule and chains of parasites

Key terms

• Producer
• Consumer
• Decomposer (reducer)
• Autotroph
• Heterotroph
• Detritivore (saprophage)
• Detritus
• Food (trophic) chain
• Trophic level
• Grazing chain
• Detrital chain
• Lindeman's rule (the 10% rule)

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