trofiske

Trofiske is a term used in ecology to describe the feeding relationships and energy flow between organisms within a biological community. It covers how energy and nutrients move from one organism to another as species feed, metabolize, and interact.

Trophic levels classify organisms by their primary source of energy. Producers, or autotrophs (such as plants and phytoplankton), capture energy from the sun. Primary consumers are herbivores that eat producers. Secondary and tertiary consumers are predators that feed on other consumers. Decomposers and detritivores, including fungi and bacteria, break down dead organic matter, returning nutrients to the environment and sustaining detrital pathways.

Energy transfer between trophic levels is inherently inefficient. A limited portion of energy at one level is incorporated into the next, commonly estimated around 10 percent. This constraint shapes the structure of ecosystems into energy pyramids, with decreasing biomass and productivity at higher trophic levels.

Trophic interactions include predation, herbivory, parasitism, and detritivory. In many ecosystems, detrital food webs, driven by decomposers feeding on dead material, contribute substantially to overall energy flow and nutrient cycling, sometimes exceeding the contribution of grazing-based pathways.

Understanding trofiske has practical implications for conservation and resource management. Changes at one trophic level can cascade through the food web (trophic cascades), affecting biodiversity, ecosystem services, and the stability of habitats. Human activities that alter primary production, predator populations, or detrital processes can significantly reshape trophic structure.

See also trophic level, food web, energy pyramid, nutrient cycling.