Producers, Consumers, Predation/Parasitism
Producers
Autotrophic- make their own food
Convert energy from the sun through photosynthesis
Phytoplankton- Small plant organisms that drift water currents and use carbon dioxide, release oxygen and convert minerals through a form animals can use most abundant and widespread producers in the marine environment
Consumers
Heterotrophic- cannot make their own food, consume other organisms or absorb dissolved material herbivores or carnivores
Decomposers
Bacteria that break down dead organisms, animal waste, dead tissue releases nutrients to support the producers as well as the consumers that feed through absorbing material
Trophic Levels
Feeding level in the food web
Organisms in food webs are commonly divided into trophic levels
Predation- Predation is an interaction in which one species uses another species as food.
-predation provides energy to prolong it’s life and reproduction of the organism.
How to avoid predation- staying in a large group
The concept of safety in numbers plays a fundamental role in schooling behavior
Blending in- blending into their surroundings to avoid being seen by predators, halibut, flounder.
Speed and maneuverability- reaction time and and speed are extremely valuable assets for any fish trying to escape a predator. Many reef fish are highly maneuverable.
A variety of fish who have sharp spines and armoured scales to protect against predators, pufferfish. Box fish, seahorses
Poisons
When threatened these animals can lunge forward and use their spines as venom injecting needles to repel threats scorpion, lion, and stonefish.
Mimicry
A variety of fish use fake eyes to confuse predators four eyed butterfly fish
On the fly fifty species of flying fish, use their ability to glide above the surface of the ocean to escape predators
Shock and awe electric eels are equipped with specialized electricity producing organs that can unleash powerful electric shocks to help them protect themself
Autotrophic- make their own food
Convert energy from the sun through photosynthesis
Phytoplankton- Small plant organisms that drift water currents and use carbon dioxide, release oxygen and convert minerals through a form animals can use most abundant and widespread producers in the marine environment
Consumers
Heterotrophic- cannot make their own food, consume other organisms or absorb dissolved material herbivores or carnivores
Decomposers
Bacteria that break down dead organisms, animal waste, dead tissue releases nutrients to support the producers as well as the consumers that feed through absorbing material
Trophic Levels
Feeding level in the food web
Organisms in food webs are commonly divided into trophic levels
Predation- Predation is an interaction in which one species uses another species as food.
-predation provides energy to prolong it’s life and reproduction of the organism.
How to avoid predation- staying in a large group
The concept of safety in numbers plays a fundamental role in schooling behavior
Blending in- blending into their surroundings to avoid being seen by predators, halibut, flounder.
Speed and maneuverability- reaction time and and speed are extremely valuable assets for any fish trying to escape a predator. Many reef fish are highly maneuverable.
A variety of fish who have sharp spines and armoured scales to protect against predators, pufferfish. Box fish, seahorses
Poisons
When threatened these animals can lunge forward and use their spines as venom injecting needles to repel threats scorpion, lion, and stonefish.
Mimicry
A variety of fish use fake eyes to confuse predators four eyed butterfly fish
On the fly fifty species of flying fish, use their ability to glide above the surface of the ocean to escape predators
Shock and awe electric eels are equipped with specialized electricity producing organs that can unleash powerful electric shocks to help them protect themself