Table of Contents Table of Contents  Background Information Background Information Background Information  Types of Organisms Types of Organisms Types of Organisms  Food Chains Food Chains Food Chains  Food Webs Food Webs Food Webs  Food for Thought Food for Thought Food for Thought  Web Resources Web Resources Web Resources

Background:  The basis of the study of ecology are interactions between organisms with other organisms and with their physical environment.  Every ecosystem is composed of numerous food chains and food webs.  All organisms on earth survive through a transfer of energy by participating in a food chain and food web.  The marine ecosystem has perhaps the most intricate and complex food chains and web system. Back to Table of Contents Back to Table of Contents

Types of Organisms:  Producers: Organisms that make their own food through photosynthesis.  Consumers: Organisms that eat other organisms.  Consumer Levels: Primary,Secondary,Tertiary 3 Types: Herbivore-eats only producers Carnivore-eats only consumers Carnivore-eats only consumers Omnivore-eats both producers & consumers Omnivore-eats both producers & consumers  Decomposers: Organisms that eat dead plants and animals, as well as animal wastes (occurs on all levels). Ex: Bacteria,Scavengers Back to Table of Contents Back to Table of Contents

What is a Food Chain?  Describes a group of organisms within an ecosystem, each of which is dependent on another for food and the transfer of energy.

Food Chain Example: Sea grass Loggerhead Turtle Hammerhead shark *Note: Arrows indicate direction of food (energy) flow. Producer Consumers Table of Contents

What is a Food Web?  A collage of interrelated food chains in an ecosystem that outline the feeding relationships between various plants and animals.

Food Web Example: ZooplanktonPhytoplankton Barrel Sponge Loggerhead Turtle Barracuda Reef Fish Manatee Black tip Reef Shark PRODUCERS CONSUMERS DECOMPOSERS Throughout web Table of Contents

Food For Thought  Would humans fit into a food web? Where?  What would happen if one or more of the organisms were removed in a food web?  Can you create your own marine food web?

Continuing Education with Web Resources: Food Webs and Challenges of the Marine Communities Marine Food Webs in the Galapagos Table of Contents

Works Cited: Images from