Heterotrophic energy sources

Abstract

Particulate and dissolved non-living organic matter are important energy inputs to most food webs, and this is especially true in running water ecosystems. While primary production by the autotrophs of running waters can be substantial (chapter 4), much of the energy support of lotic food webs derives from non-living sources of organic matter. These energy pathways are referred to as heterotrophic and the immediate consumers of this material are decomposers and detritivores, in contrast to autotrophic pathways linked to higher trophic levels by herbivores (chapter 6).