trofic

Trofic, often written as trophic in English, is an adjective used in biology to describe feeding relationships and nutrient flow within organisms and ecosystems. The term derives from the Greek trophē, meaning nourishment, and appears in phrases such as trophic levels, trophic interactions, and trophic ecology.

In ecology, trophic levels classify organisms by their main energy source: producers (autotrophs such as plants and algae); primary consumers (herbivores); and secondary and higher-level consumers (carnivores and omnivores). Energy transfers between levels are inherently inefficient, leading to energy pyramids that show decreasing available energy as one moves up the chain. Trophic interactions include predation, herbivory, parasitism, and detritivory, together shaping food webs and ecosystem dynamics.

In physiology and medicine, trophic is used to describe growth, maintenance, and nutrition of tissues. Trophic hormones regulate the size and activity of target organs, while trophic factors influence neuron survival and regeneration. Clinically, trophic changes can refer to tissue atrophy or hypertrophy, and trophic ulcers denote wounds associated with nerve damage or reduced blood flow.

In ecological research, studying trophic relationships helps scientists understand energy flow, ecosystem productivity, and the effects of species loss or introduction. Trophic cascades describe how changes at one level propagate through the food web, often producing disproportionate impacts on lower levels.

See also: trophic level, energy pyramid, autotroph, heterotroph, trophic cascade, food chain.