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Difference Between Grazing and Detritus Food Chain: Grazing and Detritus Food Chains are two types of food chains based on the source of energy. The major difference between these two is that the Grazing food chain starts from live primary producers having the Sun as the source of energy. In contrast, Detritus Food Chain starts from dead and decaying plants and animals having Organic Debris as the source of energy.
Features | Grazing Food Chain | Detritus Food Chain |
|---|---|---|
First Trophic Level | Live primary producers (plants) | Dead organisms like dead plants and animals |
Source of Energy | Sun | Dead organic matter |
Number of Trophic Levels | More trophic levels | Less trophic levels |
| Size of Food Chain | Large | Small |
Role | Adding energy and flow of energy | Nutrient recycling |
Ecosystems | Forest, Grassland, and Aquatic ecosystems | Detritus-rich environments |
Examples | Macroscopic (large-sized organisms) | Microscopic organisms like bacteria and fungi |
The flow of energy between organisms including animals, birds, insects, reptiles, etc. at different levels is known as Food Chain. These levels of a food chain are known as Trophic Levels. The trophic Level is not a physical presence but the nutritional role or function of any species in the food chain. That's why a single organism can occupy more than one trophic level in different food chains.
The food chain starts with primary producers at the first trophic level, primary consumers at the second trophic level, secondary consumers at the third trophic level, and so on.
Interlinked food chains are known as Food Web.
There are two types of Food Chains based on the primary source of energy:
The grazing food chain is a type of Food Chain in which the primary sources of energy are primary producers i.e. Plants. The first trophic level is occupied by living organisms like plants. Energy is obtained from the Sun. The Grazing Food Chain contains more trophic levels compared to the Detritus Food Chain. The major role of the Grazing Food Chain is adding energy and flow of energy. This type of food chain generally involves macroscopic (large-sized) organisms.
Examples
The grazing Food Chain is divided into two different types :
Detritus Food Chain is a type of Food Chain in which the primary source of energy is Detritus which includes dead and decaying organisms. The first trophic level is occupied by dead organisms like dead plants and animals. Energy is obtained from the dead organic matter. The Detritus Food Chain contains less trophic levels compared to the Grazing Food Chain. The major role of the Detritus Food Chain is that it helps in nutrient recycling. Detrivores break down detritus and release nutrients into the atmosphere. Detritivores are generally microscopic organisms like bacteria and fungi.
Examples
