Trophic group

Trophic group

A Trophic group refers to a category of organisms within a trophic structure, defined according to their mode of feeding.

Based on their mode of feeding, organisms can be referred to a small number of trophic groups. These include:

Primary Producers - produce food from sunlight (photosynthesis) or chemical reactions (plants, photosynthetic and chemautotropic bacteria)
Herbivores - feed on living plants. They include
Carnivores / Predators - capture, kill, dismember (usually), and feed on live prey.
Omnivores - feeds on animals or plants, generally anything it can find
Scavengers - consume dead and/or partially decayed organisms. Most tetrapod predators will also scavenge (generally easier than tackling a live and fighting prey)
Parasites - feed on another (usually larger) organism (whether plant or animal) without (usually) killing it. Two kinds: ectoparasites live externally to the host, while endoparasites live internally. Parasitoids (such as ichneumon wasps) differ from true parasites by eventually killing the host.
Suspension feeders (also called Filter feeders) - collect particulate matter or microorganisms from suspension in the water without need to subdue or dismember the particles.
Detritivores - feed on decaying organic matter in the soil
Deposit-feeders (aquatic) - collect particulate matter from the sediment
Decomposer - breaks down decaying organic matter - e.g. Fungi, bacteria

TROPHIC GROUP

[edit] Reference

Benchley, P.J. & Harper, D.A.T. (1998), Palaeoecology: Ecosystems, Environments and Evolution, Chapman & Hall, pp.240-1

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