Vertical distribution of different species occupying different level is called:

Key Points

• The biotic and abiotic factors of the ecosystem differ as the locations vary in space and time.
• The variations in the factors due to space results in spatial distribution pattern.
• Stratification is a type of such spatial pattern.
• The vertical distribution of different species at different levels is called stratification.
• For example in a forest, the trees occupy the higher strata, while grasses occupy the lowermost strata.

Additional Information

Fragmentation - 

• It is one of the steps of decomposition, where detritus is broken down into smaller particles by detritivores.

Humification -

• It is also one of the steps of decomposition in the ecosystem.
• It leads to the accumulation of humus, which undergoes very slow decomposition.
• Humus refers to the dark-coloured amorphous substance that is highly resistant to microbial action.

Primary production - 

• Primary productivity is defined as the amount of biomass produced per unit area over a time period by plants during photosynthesis.
• It depends on plant species inhabiting a particular area, availability of nutrients, light intensity, etc.
• Primary production is again defined in 2 ways:
  • Net primary productivity (NPP) - It is the amount of biomass available for the consumption of heterotrophs i.e., organic matter in excess of the respiratory utilization by the plants.
  • Gross primary productivity (GPP) - It is the rate of production of organic matter by photosynthesis per unit time including the photosynthate that is to be used in respiration.
  • They can be related by the equation: GPP - R = NPP, where R = Respiratory losses.