Write a note on DFC. Give its significance in a terrestrial ecosystem.

Explanation

The detritus food chain (DFC) begins with dead organic matter (such as leaf litter, bodies of dead organism). It is made up of decomposers which are heterotrophic organismis mainly the fungi. and .bacteria.. They meet their energy and nutrient requirements by degrading dead organic matter to detritus. These are also known as saprotrophs. I Decomposers secrete digestive enzymes that break down dead and waste materials (such as faceces 1) into simple absorbable substances. Some examples of detritus food chains are :
i) Detritus - Earthworm - Frogs - Snakes
ii) Dead animals - Flies and maggots - Frogs - Snakes.
In an aquatic ecosystem. GFC is the major conduit for the energy flow. As against this, in a terrestrial ecosystem a much larger fraction of energy flows through the detritus food chain than through the GFC. Detritu.s food chain may be connected with the grazing food chain at some levels. Some of the organisms of DFC may form the prey of the GFC animals. For example, in the detritus food chain given above, the earthworms of the DFC may become the food of the birds of the GFC. It is to be understood that food chains are not .isolated. always.