Ecosystems

The trophic chain

There are two types of food chains: the pasture chain and the waste chain. The first part of green plants passes through the pasturing herbivores, then moves to the first.-level carnivores that fed on herbivores, then to second-level carnivores that feed on other carnivores. The second part of the dead organic matter passes through the micro-organisms, from these they move to the animals that feed on waste, then finally to their predators, that is, carnivore animals. Food chains are tightly interconnected, this is why we speak of a trophic (or food) network. In natural ecosystems, the organisms that take food from the sun through the same number of passages are considered as being part of the same trophic level. So, the green plants (producers) are the first trophic level, the organisms that feed on plants are the second level (primary consumers), carnivores are the third level and carnivore predators are the fourth level (secondary and tertiary consumers). The source and quality of the energy available determines the type and number of organisms and the development processes for all levels.