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Ecosystem Connections
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links below to see connections in this ecosystem.
Coral reefs are the most diverse marine ecosystem. In this web of life, some species depend on each other directly. Some depend on others indirectly.
Parrot fish depend on the tasty algae that live with the coral polyps.
The moray eel has poor eyesight. But it has a keen sense of smell for locating parrot fish and other prey.
Once a sponge finds a part of the ocean with enough plankton, it attaches itself to the rocks or other solid surfaces. Plankton is made up of tiny animals and algae that drift in the water.
The moray eel will catch and feast on this spiny lobster.
After crown-of-thorns starfish chomp on coral, polychaete worms feast on the dead leftovers!
Baby coral, or larvae, can’t swim on their own. So they drift with other plankton for several days before settling on a coral colony.
The crown-of-thorns starfish devours the coral’s thick branches.
At night, moray eels hunt farmer fish as they graze on coral reefs.
Algae are a part of a farmer fish’s diet. These microscopic organisms live with corals and give them their color.
Spiny lobsters are being overfished. How will this affect their prey, the polychaete worms?
Coral reefs are the most diverse marine ecosystem. In this web of life, some species depend on each other directly. Some depend on others indirectly.
Image Credits:
Wave pattern, created by Dmitry Kovalev from the Noun Project; Luke's photo, courtesy of Luke; Illustrations, AMNH / Sean Murtha.