Full biotic structure
• Producers (Autotrophs)
– Photosynthetic autotrophs (photoautotrops)
– Chemosynthetic autotrophs (chemoautotrophs)
• Heterotrophs
– Consumers
• Primary Æ herbivores
• Secondary Æ carnivores or omnivores
• Tertiary . . . .
– Necrophages
• Scavengers
• Detritus feeders
• Decomposers
By biomass
By individuals
Light availability
High
Competition for a single resource
leads to resource partitioning
and niche specialization.
Fundamental
Realized Niche
Low
Low
Nitrogen availability
High