IndivdualsEnergyandnutrientrelationsUsing Organic molecules
Individuals Energy and nutrient relations ➢ Using Organic molecules
IndivdualsEnergyandnutrientrelationsHerbivoresCarnivoresDetritivores·Chemical Composition andNutrient Requirments
Individuals Energy and nutrient relations • Chemical Composition and Nutrient Requirments Herbivores Carnivores Detritivores
IndividualsEnergyandnutrientrelationsHigh C:N ratios show thatplants are relatively rich inC/Ncarbon and poor in nitrogen.30COHNP--93-97%biomassLow C:Nratios show thatanimals,fungi,and bacteria20are relatively rich in nitrogen100BacteriaFungiPlantsAnimalsOrganismsFIGURE 6.7Ratio of carbon to nitrogen (C:N) across biological kingdoms (datafrom Spector1956)
Individuals Energy and nutrient relations C/N C O H N P -93-97% biomass
IndividualsEnergyandnatrientrelationsHerbivoresLow concentrations of nitroenPhysicaland chemicaldefenses of plantsDigestFIGURE 6.8Herbivores must overcome the wide variety of physicaland chemicaldefensesevolved byplants
Individuals Energy and nutrient relations Herbivores Low concentrations of nitrgen Physical and chemical defenses of plants Digest
IndividualsEnergyandnutrientrelationsWoodytissues of pinetrunks and branches400display high C:Nratios.C/N300The C:Nratio of pine needles is200much lower and similarto thatofherbaceous plants growing inthe forest understory1000TrunksBranchesNeedlesHerbaceousTissuesFIGURE6.9Variation in C:N ratios in a pine forest (datafromKlemmedson 1975)
Individuals Energy and nutrient relations C/N