Saprophages are organisms that obtain nutrients by consuming decomposing dead plant or animal biomass.[1] They are distinguished from detritivores in that saprophages are sessile consumers while detritivores are mobile.[citation needed] Typical saprophagic animals include sedentary polychaetes such as amphitrites (Amphitritinae, worms of the family Terebellidae) and other terebellids.
The eating of wood, whether live or dead, is known as xylophagy. The activity of animals feeding only on dead wood is called sapro-xylophagy and those animals, sapro-xylophagous.
EcologyEdit
In food webs, saprophages generally play the roles of decomposers. There are two main branches of saprophages, broken down by nutrient source. There are necrophages which consume dead animal biomass, and thanatophages which consume dead plant biomass.
^Getz, Wayne M. (February 2011). "Biomass transformation webs provide a unified approach to consumer-resource modelling". Ecology Letters. 14 (2): 113–124. doi:10.1111/j.1461-0248.2010.01566.x. PMC3032891. PMID 21199247.
October 15, 2023
saprophagy, saprophages, organisms, that, obtain, nutrients, consuming, decomposing, dead, plant, animal, biomass, they, distinguished, from, detritivores, that, saprophages, sessile, consumers, while, detritivores, mobile, citation, needed, typical, saprophag. Saprophages are organisms that obtain nutrients by consuming decomposing dead plant or animal biomass 1 They are distinguished from detritivores in that saprophages are sessile consumers while detritivores are mobile citation needed Typical saprophagic animals include sedentary polychaetes such as amphitrites Amphitritinae worms of the family Terebellidae and other terebellids Fungi are the primary decomposers in most environments illustrated here Mycena interrupta The eating of wood whether live or dead is known as xylophagy The activity of animals feeding only on dead wood is called sapro xylophagy and those animals sapro xylophagous Ecology EditIn food webs saprophages generally play the roles of decomposers There are two main branches of saprophages broken down by nutrient source There are necrophages which consume dead animal biomass and thanatophages which consume dead plant biomass See also EditDetritivore Decomposer Saprotrophic nutrition Consumer resource systemsReferences Edit Getz Wayne M February 2011 Biomass transformation webs provide a unified approach to consumer resource modelling Ecology Letters 14 2 113 124 doi 10 1111 j 1461 0248 2010 01566 x PMC 3032891 PMID 21199247 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Saprophagy amp oldid 1136868830, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
