Herbivory – Class 12 | Chapter – 13 | Biology Short Notes Series PDF
Herbivory: It is the act of eating plants or plant parts by animals, including insects, mammals, birds, and other organisms. Herbivores play an important role in ecosystems by consuming plants and shaping the growth and distribution of vegetation.
Herbivory can have both positive and negative effects on ecosystems. On one hand, herbivores can help control the growth of certain plant species, preventing them from dominating an ecosystem. On the other hand, heavy herbivory can lead to overgrazing and decreased biodiversity.
Some herbivores, such as elephants and cows, have a major impact on ecosystems because of their size and feeding habits, while others, such as caterpillars and snails, have a more limited impact. Herbivores also play a role in the food web, serving as a food source for carnivores and omnivores.
Understanding herbivory and the interactions between herbivores and their plant food sources is important for managing ecosystems and preserving biodiversity.
Types of Herbivory
- Folivory: This occurs when animals feed on leaves of plants.
- Frugivory: This occurs when animals feed on fruit of plants.
- Nectivory: This occurs when animals feed on nectar of plants.
- Graminivory: This occurs when animals feed on grasses and other members of the Poaceae family.
- Xylophagy: This occurs when animals feed on wood of plants.
- Succulentivory: This occurs when animals feed on succulent parts of plants, such as stems or cacti.
- Seed predation: This occurs when animals consume seeds of plants before they can germinate.
Each type of herbivory can have different effects on the plants being consumed and the herbivores consuming them, and understanding these relationships is important for understanding the dynamics of ecosystems and for managing and preserving natural habitats.
Example of Herbivory
Herbivory occurs in many different species of plants and animals. Some examples of herbivory include:
- Elephants eating leaves, branches, and bark of trees
- Rabbits eating grasses and other vegetation
- Deer eating leaves, shoots, and flowers of plants
- Bison eating grasses and other vegetation
- Koalas eating eucalyptus leaves
- Giraffes eating leaves of trees and shrubs
- Sloths eating leaves, fruits, and flowers of plants
- Caterpillars eating leaves of plants
- Monkeys eating fruits, leaves, and flowers of plants
- Kangaroos eating grasses and other vegetation
Herbivory plays an important role in shaping the growth and distribution of vegetation and influencing the structure of ecosystems. It is also a critical component of the food chain, serving as a food source for carnivores and omnivores.
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