Difference between revisions of "Trophics"
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| − | + | [[Trophics]] is a biological life science important to the studies of [[sophontology]] (...the study of [[technology]]-using alien species) and [[Xenobiology]] (...the study of non-[[technology]]-using alien species, often called ''[[creature]]s'' or ''beasts''). | |
| + | * Please also see [[Animal Classification]] and [[Taxonomy]] for similar sciences. | ||
| − | + | === Term Etymology === | |
| + | ''Trophic'', from the [[Terran]] language of Ancient [[Greek]] as ''trophikos'' meaning ''pertaining to food or nourishment''. | ||
| − | == | + | == Description ([[Specifications]]) == |
| − | + | ''Trophics'' is a biological life science studying the the selection of food used by a [[lifeform]] for nutritional intake or sustenance, the dietary relationships between different lifeforms, and other related topics. | |
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=== Trophic Levels === | === Trophic Levels === | ||
| − | Trophic levels can vary greatly according to the nature of a plant and the local fauna and flora. | + | Trophic levels can vary greatly according to the nature of a plant and the local [[fauna]] and [[flora]]. |
| − | Typically, trophic levels are arraged in a pyramidal structure with the least populous groups of a trophic classification located at the top of the pyramid, usually ''apex predators'' or more common types of ''carnivores'', and the most populous groups of a trophic classification located at the bottom of the pyramid, usually ''autotrophs'' and ''detrivores'' of various types. | + | Typically, trophic levels are arraged in a pyramidal structure with the least populous groups of a trophic classification located at the top of the pyramid, usually ''apex predators'' or more common types of ''carnivores'', and the most populous groups of a trophic classification located at the bottom of the pyramid, usually ''autotrophs'' and ''detrivores'' of various types. "Biomass" and dietary efficiency is lost as the trophic level rises. |
| − | A typical system of trophic levels for a terrestrial planet of the type favorable to Humaniti, might look like this: | + | === Trophic Systems === |
| + | A typical system of trophic levels for a [[terrestrial planet]] of the type favorable to baseline [[Humaniti]], might look like this: | ||
| − | * Level 5: '''Apex predators''', typically a type of ''carnivore'', have no predators, are at the top of the food chain, and are sometimes called quaternary consumers. | + | * Level 5: '''Apex predators''', typically a type of ''carnivore'', have no predators, are at the very top of the food chain, and are sometimes called quaternary consumers. |
* Level 4: '''Carnivores''' and ''omnivores'' that eat other carnivores (...and supplement their diet with autotrophic life) are called tertiary consumers. | * Level 4: '''Carnivores''' and ''omnivores'' that eat other carnivores (...and supplement their diet with autotrophic life) are called tertiary consumers. | ||
* Level 3: '''Omnivores''' and ''scavengers'' that eat herbivores (...and dead organic matter) are called secondary consumers. | * Level 3: '''Omnivores''' and ''scavengers'' that eat herbivores (...and dead organic matter) are called secondary consumers. | ||
| − | * Level 2: '''Herbivores''' eat autotrophs and are called primary consumers. | + | * Level 2: '''Herbivores''' and ''scavengers'' eat autotrophs (...and dead organic or inorganic matter) and are called primary consumers. |
| − | * Level 1: '''Autotrophs''' (Plants, fungi, algae, etc.) make their own food and are called primary producers. | + | * Level 1: '''Autotrophs''' (Plants, fungi, algae, etc.) most often make their own food and are called primary producers. |
| + | |||
| + | ==== Trophic Table ==== | ||
| + | :{| class="wikitable sortable" width="90%" | ||
| + | |+Animal Classification (Science) Table of Trophic Consumption & Classification | ||
| + | ! Trophic Level | ||
| + | ! Trophic Classification | ||
| + | ! Alt. Name | ||
| + | ! Notes | ||
| + | |- valign="top" | ||
| + | | Level 5 | ||
| + | | Apex Predators (Carnivores & [[Sophont]]s) | ||
| + | | Quaternary Consumer | ||
| + | | Have no predators, are at the very top of the food chain | ||
| + | |- valign="top" | ||
| + | | Level 4 | ||
| + | | Predators (Carnivores & Omnivores) | ||
| + | | Tertiary Consumer | ||
| + | | Eat other carnivores (...and supplement their diet w/autotrophs) | ||
| + | |- valign="top" | ||
| + | | Level 3 | ||
| + | | Prey (Omnivores & Scavengers) | ||
| + | | Secondary Consumer | ||
| + | | Eat herbivores (...and dead organic matter) | ||
| + | |- valign="top" | ||
| + | | Level 2 | ||
| + | | CisPrey (Herbivores & Scavengers) | ||
| + | | Primary Consumer | ||
| + | | Eat autotrophs (...and dead organic or inorganic matter) | ||
| + | |- valign="top" | ||
| + | | Level 1 | ||
| + | | Autotrophs | ||
| + | | Primary Producer | ||
| + | | (Plants, fungi, algae, etc.) make their own food | ||
| + | |} | ||
| − | === | + | === Food Webs === |
| − | + | A ''Food Web'', or ''food chain'', is a diagram showing the dietary relationships between different lifeforms, or, to put it simply, ''who eats whom''. | |
| − | + | == History & Background ([[Dossier]]) == | |
| + | No information yet available. | ||
| − | + | === Terminology === | |
| + | * ''Biomass'' is the amount of organic matter present in a lifeform. | ||
| + | * ''Diet'' is the selection of food used by a lifeform for nutritional intake or sustenance. | ||
| + | * ''Food Web'' is a diagram showing dietary relationships. | ||
| − | == | + | === [[Abiogenesis]] === |
| − | + | While trophic levels have a theoretical top and bottom, the system, sometimes called a ''food web'', forms a continuous, self-sustaining cycle. It is more than a little erroneous to list a beginning and ending level since science has still not discovered exactly how life originally began, a process known as ''[[Abiogenesis]]''. | |
| − | * ''' | + | * Some scientists hold the theory that only life can beget life '''([[Biogenesis]])''', while others are convinced that biological life can arise from inanimate and inorganic matter '''([[Abiogenesis]])'''. |
| − | * ''' | + | * The mysteries of ''[[Abiogenesis]]'' remain some of the greatest quandaries known to the [[Third Imperium]]. Many scientists have studied the archeological remains of the [[Ancients]] [[society]] looking for clues. |
| + | == References & Contributors ([[Sources]]) == | ||
| + | {{Advanced}} | ||
{{Sources | {{Sources | ||
| − | |S1= Author: [[ | + | |S1= TBD |
| − | + | |S2= [[Traveller Wiki Editorial Team]] | |
| + | |S3= Author & Contributor: Lord (Marquis) and Master of Sophontology [[Maksim-Smelchak]] of the [[Ministry of Science]] | ||
}} | }} | ||
| − | {{ | + | |
| − | + | {{LEN|Science|}} | |
Latest revision as of 20:53, 3 October 2020
Trophics is a biological life science important to the studies of sophontology (...the study of technology-using alien species) and Xenobiology (...the study of non-technology-using alien species, often called creatures or beasts).
- Please also see Animal Classification and Taxonomy for similar sciences.
Term Etymology[edit]
Trophic, from the Terran language of Ancient Greek as trophikos meaning pertaining to food or nourishment.
Description (Specifications)[edit]
Trophics is a biological life science studying the the selection of food used by a lifeform for nutritional intake or sustenance, the dietary relationships between different lifeforms, and other related topics.
Trophic Levels[edit]
Trophic levels can vary greatly according to the nature of a plant and the local fauna and flora.
Typically, trophic levels are arraged in a pyramidal structure with the least populous groups of a trophic classification located at the top of the pyramid, usually apex predators or more common types of carnivores, and the most populous groups of a trophic classification located at the bottom of the pyramid, usually autotrophs and detrivores of various types. "Biomass" and dietary efficiency is lost as the trophic level rises.
Trophic Systems[edit]
A typical system of trophic levels for a terrestrial planet of the type favorable to baseline Humaniti, might look like this:
- Level 5: Apex predators, typically a type of carnivore, have no predators, are at the very top of the food chain, and are sometimes called quaternary consumers.
- Level 4: Carnivores and omnivores that eat other carnivores (...and supplement their diet with autotrophic life) are called tertiary consumers.
- Level 3: Omnivores and scavengers that eat herbivores (...and dead organic matter) are called secondary consumers.
- Level 2: Herbivores and scavengers eat autotrophs (...and dead organic or inorganic matter) and are called primary consumers.
- Level 1: Autotrophs (Plants, fungi, algae, etc.) most often make their own food and are called primary producers.
Trophic Table[edit]
Animal Classification (Science) Table of Trophic Consumption & Classification Trophic Level Trophic Classification Alt. Name Notes Level 5 Apex Predators (Carnivores & Sophonts) Quaternary Consumer Have no predators, are at the very top of the food chain Level 4 Predators (Carnivores & Omnivores) Tertiary Consumer Eat other carnivores (...and supplement their diet w/autotrophs) Level 3 Prey (Omnivores & Scavengers) Secondary Consumer Eat herbivores (...and dead organic matter) Level 2 CisPrey (Herbivores & Scavengers) Primary Consumer Eat autotrophs (...and dead organic or inorganic matter) Level 1 Autotrophs Primary Producer (Plants, fungi, algae, etc.) make their own food
Food Webs[edit]
A Food Web, or food chain, is a diagram showing the dietary relationships between different lifeforms, or, to put it simply, who eats whom.
History & Background (Dossier)[edit]
No information yet available.
Terminology[edit]
- Biomass is the amount of organic matter present in a lifeform.
- Diet is the selection of food used by a lifeform for nutritional intake or sustenance.
- Food Web is a diagram showing dietary relationships.
Abiogenesis[edit]
While trophic levels have a theoretical top and bottom, the system, sometimes called a food web, forms a continuous, self-sustaining cycle. It is more than a little erroneous to list a beginning and ending level since science has still not discovered exactly how life originally began, a process known as Abiogenesis.
- Some scientists hold the theory that only life can beget life (Biogenesis), while others are convinced that biological life can arise from inanimate and inorganic matter (Abiogenesis).
- The mysteries of Abiogenesis remain some of the greatest quandaries known to the Third Imperium. Many scientists have studied the archeological remains of the Ancients society looking for clues.
References & Contributors (Sources)[edit]
This list of sources was used by the Traveller Wiki Editorial Team and individual contributors to compose this article. Copyrighted material is used under license from Mongoose Publishing or by permission of the author. The page history lists all of the contributions.
- TBD
- Traveller Wiki Editorial Team
- Author & Contributor: Lord (Marquis) and Master of Sophontology Maksim-Smelchak of the Ministry of Science