Trofikus

Trofikus is a term used in ecology to describe the feeding relationships and energy transfer that occur within ecosystems. The concept encompasses how organisms obtain energy and nutrients by consuming other organisms, and how these interactions shape the structure and function of ecological communities. The word derives from the Greek trophē, meaning nourishment.

Trophic levels are the distinct positions organisms occupy in a food system. Producers, such as plants and algae, convert light energy into chemical energy. Primary consumers are herbivores that eat producers. Secondary consumers feed on primary consumers, and tertiary (and higher) consumers prey on other consumers. Detritivores and decomposers, including many bacteria and fungi, occupy a detrital pathway by breaking down dead organic matter and recycling nutrients. In many ecosystems, detrital pathways contribute substantially to energy flow and nutrient cycling.

Energy transfer between trophic levels is inefficient; only a fraction of the energy at one level is biomass at the next. The remainder is lost as heat, used in metabolism, or left as waste. This results in the classic trophic pyramid, with decreasing energy and biomass at higher levels. Omnivores may occupy multiple trophic positions, while decomposers connect living communities to the nutrient pool through the detrital web.

Trophic dynamics underpin concepts such as trophic cascades, where changes at one level ripple through the food web, affecting abundance and ecosystem processes. The study of trofikus informs conservation, ecosystem management, and understanding of energy flow and nutrient cycling in both terrestrial and aquatic systems.