<P> Food webs have trophic levels and positions . Basal species , such as plants , form the first level and are the resource limited species that feed on no other living creature in the web . Basal species can be autotrophs or detritivores , including `` decomposing organic material and its associated microorganisms which we defined as detritus , micro-inorganic material and associated microorganisms ( MIP ) , and vascular plant material . '' Most autotrophs capture the sun 's energy in chlorophyll , but some autotrophs ( the chemolithotrophs ) obtain energy by the chemical oxidation of inorganic compounds and can grow in dark environments , such as the sulfur bacterium Thiobacillus , which lives in hot sulfur springs . The top level has top ( or apex ) predators which no other species kills directly for its food resource needs . The intermediate levels are filled with omnivores that feed on more than one trophic level and cause energy to flow through a number of food pathways starting from a basal species . </P>
<P> Food webs have trophic levels and positions . Basal species , such as plants , form the first level and are the resource limited species that feed on no other living creature in the web . Basal species can be autotrophs or detritivores , including `` decomposing organic material and its associated microorganisms which we defined as detritus , micro-inorganic material and associated microorganisms ( MIP ) , and vascular plant material . '' Most autotrophs capture the sun 's energy in chlorophyll , but some autotrophs ( the chemolithotrophs ) obtain energy by the chemical oxidation of inorganic compounds and can grow in dark environments , such as the sulfur bacterium Thiobacillus , which lives in hot sulfur springs . The top level has top ( or apex ) predators which no other species kills directly for its food resource needs . The intermediate levels are filled with omnivores that feed on more than one trophic level and cause energy to flow through a number of food pathways starting from a basal species . </P>
what is another name for plants in the food web
what is another name for plants in the food web
Basal species
Basal species