Coral Reef Food Chain
The Coral Reef Food Chain is made up of many different species of aquatic life. This Coral Reef Food Chain must be kept in balance so that it does not disturb the lives of the creatures. If one animal becomes overpopulated or if one animal becomes extinct, it could prove harmful to the entire Coral Reef Food Chain.
Coral Reef Food Chain Plankton
At the very bottom of our Coral Reef Food Chain are microorganisms such as zooplankton. Zooplankton is a broad category for many forms of planktons like metazoan and protozoan. This zooplankton activates the polyps found on the coral to release amino acids that provoke a feeding response in the coral. Coral Reefs need this plankton to grow.
Coral Reef in the Food Chain
The Coral Reef is the most important part in the Food Chain. It sustains the life of 1500 marine fish, 600 species of echinoderms, and 500 types of seaweed. Some of these creatures feed off of the coral, while others use it for shelter so that they may thrive and grow in the Coral Reef Food Chain.
Coral Reef Food Chain Herbivorous Fish
The next species in the Coral Reef Food Chain are herbivorous fish. These fish are herbivores, which mean that they only eat plant life. They feed off of all live plants including distichodus, scat, and seaweeds. They technically do not use Coral Reef as means of food, but they do eat the seaweed that grows on coral. If this is left uneaten, the seaweed will suffocate the Coral Reef.
Coral Reef Food Chain Predatory Fish
Predatory fish are carnivorous fish in our Coral Reef Food Chain. Carnivorous fish feed off of other fish. Some types of predatory fish include wolf fish, piranhas, groupers, and snakeheads. These fish serve a very prominent function in the Food Chain. Predatory fish devour herbivorous fish so that they do not become overpopulated.
Coral Reef Food Chain Importance
The Coral Reef Food Chain is a very important process that is necessary to sustain all of marine life. Human impact is a problem for this process. If overfishing occurs, there will be less predatory fish and it will upset the Food Chain. We must remember that the Coral Reef Food Chain maintains the lives of over one million aquatic species.
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