Questions and Answers
What is herbivory?
Process in which an animal consumes a plant or plant-like organism, e.g., cacti, seaweed, that get their energy via photosynthesis or chemosynthesis.
What are two benefits of herbivory to herbivores themselves?
What are two effects of herbivory on the environment?
What is the main importance of herbivory to the food web?
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How does biomass change with increasing trophic levels?
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The herbivore diversity and abundance reflects what?
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In what two ways can plant communities be controlled?
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What is top-down control?
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Give an example of top-down control.
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What is bottom-up control?
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What are two examples of bottom-up control?
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What is a specialist?
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What are two benefits of being a specialist?
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What is a generalist?
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What is a hypothesis for the diet diversity of generalists?
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What are the relative distributions of specialists and generalists?
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What are heterotrophic organisms?
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What is grazing?
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What is browsing?
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What is burrowing?
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What are three examples of organisms that fruit, seed, nectar and pollen eaters?
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What is filter feeding?
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Study Notes
Herbivory Overview
- Herbivory refers to animals consuming plants or plant-like organisms that derive energy from photosynthesis or chemosynthesis.
Benefits to Herbivores
- Maximizes energy intake per pound of consumed food.
- Provides significant nutritional value in their diet.
Environmental Effects of Herbivory
- Regulates plant species composition within communities.
- Influences primary production, decomposition, and energy flow in food chains.
Importance in Food Webs
- Primary consumers act as a bridge, transferring energy from plants to higher trophic levels.
Biomass and Trophic Levels
- Biomass decreases as trophic levels increase, with herbivores outnumbering secondary and tertiary consumers.
Herbivore Diversity
- The diversity and abundance of herbivores are reflective of the diversity and abundance of plant species.
Control of Plant Communities
- Bottom-up control involves resource limitations like nutrients.
- Top-down control is driven by consumer predation.
Top-Down Control Example
- In kelp forests, sea otters (keystone predators) regulate sea urchin populations, allowing macroalgae to thrive.
Bottom-Up Control
- Community structure and ecosystem health are determined by resource availability (e.g., nutrients, light).
- Increased resources elevate the base of the ecological pyramid, affecting higher trophic levels.
Bottom-Up Control Examples
- Algal blooms from nutrient runoff can lead to harmful conditions and anoxia.
- Monsoons increase vegetation, subsequently boosting rodent populations.
Specialist vs. Generalist
- Specialists (stenophagous) feed on a few closely related plant species.
- Generalists (euryphagous) consume a variety of unrelated plant species.
Benefits of Specialists
- Can utilize plants with chemical defenses for predation protection.
- Often get all necessary nutrients from a limited food source.
Generalist Diet Diversity Hypothesis
- Generalists aim for an optimal nutrient mix within a fixed total intake.
Geographic Distribution of Feeders
- Specialists have small, localized distributions, tied to specific plant co-evolution.
- Generalists possess large geographic ranges due to varied diets.
Heterotrophy
- All animals are heterotrophs, obtaining organic nutrients through consumption of living or dead organisms.
Grazing
- Involves consuming grasses and small ground plants, as well as scraping algae from water surfaces.
- Nutritional yield is low; hence, herbivores must consume large quantities.
- Common grazing organisms include cows, grasshoppers, and rodents.
Browsing
- Refers to feeding on leaves and shoots from trees and shrubs.
- Common browsers include goats, caterpillars, and pandas.
Burrowing
- Involves eating while tunneling through food; serves to create shelter.
- Examples of burrowers include bark beetles, leaf miners, and termites.
Plant Parts Eaters
- Fruit Eaters: Birds, monkeys, bears.
- Seed Eaters: Ants, squirrels, birds.
- Nectar Eaters: Bees, flies, moths.
- Pollen Eaters: Bees, flies, beetles.
Filter Feeding
- Technique used by aquatic organisms to extract small food items like plankton from water.
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Description
Test your knowledge on herbivory with this quiz. Explore key definitions, benefits for herbivores, and the environmental effects of plant consumption. Enhance your understanding of the role of herbivory in ecosystems.
