Trophics

Trophics (Science) Synopsis

Trophics is a biological life science important to the studies of sophontology (...the study of technology-using alien species) and xenology (...the study of non-technology-using alien species, often called creatures or beasts).

See Animal classification for a similar science.

Trophics (Science) Etymology

Trophic, from the Terran language of Ancient Greek as trophikos meaning pertaining to food or nourishment.

Trophics (Science) Description

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.

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.

Trophic Levels

Trophic levels can vary greatly according to the nature of a plant and the local fauna and flora.

A typical system of trophic levels for a terrestrial planet of the type favorable to Humaniti, might look like this:

Level 1: Plants and algae make their own food and are called primary producers.
Level 2: Herbivores eat plants and are called primary consumers.
Level 3: Carnivores that eat herbivores are called secondary consumers.
Level 4: Carnivores that eat other carnivores are called tertiary consumers.
Level 5: Apex predators that have no predators are at the top of the food chain.

Trophics (Science) 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 the dietary relationships.