If the secondary production of herbivores increases in step

If the secondary production of herbivores increases in step 1:1 with the primary production of plants in different ecosystems, does this mean that all herbivore populations must be food-limited and unaffected by predators and diseases?

Solution

Answer:

Primary production of plants is due to absobtion of sunlight by plants and prepare food material through a process known as photosynthesis. The biomass of the plants increase due to photosynthesis and such condition is known as primary production.

Secondary production or increase in biomass of herbivores is due to consumption of the primary producers. Primary production and secondary production seems to be 1:1 ratio indicate that, enormous amount of the food is available for secondary production, so the biomass of the secondary producers increases. In general, primary production should be higher than the secondary production in a normal food chain. Due to high amount of primary producers in food chain, secondary producers might have extensively feed on them and primary producers number decreased, and ratio reached 1:1. The herbivore population is not effected by predators and diseases.