Running head: FOOD WEB 1

Food Web Diagram and the Coral Reef

BIO/101
Univerit! of "hoeni#
FOOD WEB $
Food Web Diagram
www.nsf.gov
Sun
(Produce
rs) Algae
Sea Grass,
Macro Algae,
and Micro Algae.
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Producer
(Producers
) Coral
Plankton,
Phytoplankton,
Zooplankton, and
zooxanthellae
Primary
Consumers
Sea-snakes
Blennies, angs, Snails,
and !ra"s
Secondary
Consumers
Wrasses,
Grouper,
Cephalopods,
and Sharks
Consumers
Secondary
Parrot-#sh , Angel#sh,
"utter$y#sh, and
trigger#sh.
Decomposers
(Detrivores)
Bacteria, !opepods,
A%phipods, various
wor%s, snails, and cra"s
Consumers
Primary
!oral Polyps, urtles
!la%s,
&ysters, and
scallops.
FOOD WEB %
Coral Reef Ecosystem
&an! living organim ma'e u( the e)o!tem of the )oral reef a *ell a man!
nonliving element that (rovide helter+ (rote)tion+ and food, -he living organim of the )oral
reef tart *ith man! )oral+ *hi)h are animal 'no*n a (ol!( in the Cnidarian grou(, -he
)oral (ol!( form together a a tight net )olon!+ *hi)h )reate the fa)inating living environment
'no*n a the )oral reef .Coral /ntho0oa+ 11123$0114, /mong the )oral reef reide t*o
intereting living organim5 the eahore and the )lo*n fih,
Structure and Function of the Main Organs
-he eahore doe not )ontain a toma)h5 therefore mot of the time i (ent )ontantl!
eating, -he main organ of the eahore are: 'idne!+ liver+ ga bladder+ urinar! bladder+
intetine+ heart+ gill+ and the re(rodu)tive organ, -he gill are the re(irator! organ for the
eahore+ e#)hanging o#!gen for )arbon dio#ide from the *ater, -he ga bladder i re(onible
for giving the eahore buo!an)!, -he fun)tion of the remaining other main organ are the ame
a *ith an! other living organim .6eahore /natom!+ $0114,
-he tru)ture of the eahore i u(right *ith the head )ontaining a )oronet+ *hi)h erve
a an identif!ing feature for the eahore, -he tail of the eahore i (rehenile+ *hi)h (rovide
the eahore the abilit! to gra( ob7e)t and maintain tabili0ation, -he tail i alo benefi)ial to
the eahore during mating+ *hi)h the male )arrie the egg after fertili0ation in the brood (ou)h
on the front ide of the tail, -he anal fin i 7ut above the brood (ou)h+ and i benefi)ial during
*imming a *ell a )overing the brood (ou)h for (rote)tion .6eahore /natom!+ $0114,
-he eahore i not the fatet *immer+ nor the mot agile or table *ithin the living
organim of the )oral reef, -herefore+ the eahore mut rel! of the environment to (rovide
helter and afet! from (redator that ma! lur' around the )oral reef a *ell a (roviding food b!
(Produce
rs) Algae
Sea Grass,
Macro Algae,
and Micro Algae.
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Producer
FOOD WEB 8
*a! of unu(e)ting (aerb!, -he eahore )an alter the te#ture and )olor of it bod! to ada(t
to the urrounding, -hi ada(tation of )oloring and te#ture ha (roven benefi)ial to the
eahore+ allo*ing the e#iten)e of thi ama0ing )reature to )ontinue ."a(aro+ $0114, /nother
defene i the e!e of the eahore that )an move e(aratel! from ea)h other+ (roviding a
)ontant loo'out for (redator *hile loo'ing for food,
-he )lo*nfih+ 'no*n a the anemone fih )an )ome in an arra! of )olor and
(attern+ u)h a bright orange *ith three *hite tri(e on it bod!5 made (o(ular in the Dine!
movie 9Finding :emo,9 Clo*n fih are the onl! fih that )an live among the anemone+ *hi)h
have tinging tenta)le, -he anemone are ali'e the )oral in that the! alo hel( form the reef+
and are living organim, -he )lo*n fih (rote)t the anemone a doe the anemone (rote)t
the )lo*n fih ./n E#(loration of the Clo*nfih+ 111;3$0084, -hi i the (erfe)t e#am(le of a
form of mutualim in *hi)h living organim aid ea)h other *ithin their environment, -he
)lo*n fih eat food (arti)le and algae from the anemone and the anemone re)eive )ir)ulation
to the *ater a the )lo*n fih *im around,
-he )lo*n fih< main organ are the 'idne!+ heart+ liver+ intetine+ toma)h+ (leen+
(an)rea+ gill+ brain+ and gonad, /lo (reent inide the bod! are a (ine+ *im bladder+ vent+
(!lori) )ae)a+ and mu)le, &ot organ *ithin the )lo*n fih )arr! out the ame fun)tion a
thoe of other living organim *ith e#)e(tion to the gill ta'ing the (la)e of lung for breathing,
6i# fin ma'e u( the outer tru)ture of the )lo*n5 (in! doral+ oft doral+ )audal+ anal+ and
(elvi) .6alt*ater /=uarium >uide+ $0083$00?4,
-he )lo*n fih< re(rodu)tive !tem i intereting in that both e#e are (reent at birth,
When the )lo*n fih i born+ it i in a neutral tate )on)erning the e#, -he )lo*n fih live in
grou( *ith the larget a the female+ and the ne#t larget a the male, -he ret of the grou(
(Produce
rs) Algae
Sea Grass,
Macro Algae,
and Micro Algae.
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Producer
FOOD WEB ;
remain a neuter until the female die+ at *hi)h time the ne#t larget *ill be)ome the female and
another male )ome from the ne#t larget of the neuter, /gain the anemone (la! an im(ortant
(art *ith the egg of the )lo*n fih+ b! (rote)ting the egg *ith the tenta)le .6hedd the World<
/=uarium+ $0013$0024,
Why They Are Suited for Their Environment
-he e)o!tem of the )oral reef re=uire everal living organim to )oe#it *ith
nonliving element for )ontinuing urvival, E#(loring both the eahore and the )lo*n fih
allo* an inight at 7ut ho* thee living organim e#it *ithin thi beautiful *orld under the
ea, Both re=uire food and helter+ *hi)h i a (roviion of the urrounding environment5 the
eahore )hanging )olor and te#ture *herea the )lo*n fih+ relie on the anemone, Ea)h of
thee living organim *ould (erih *ithout the e)o!tem in *hi)h the! urvive+ *hi)h ma'e
)ontinuing to re(e)t the )oral reef a (riorit! for ever! living organim .in)luding human4,
To Food Chains Associated ith Ecosystem
-he bae of the food )hain i the (rodu)er+ *hi)h are ver! im(ortant, -he (rodu)er are
eaten b! the )onumer, -*o t!(e of (rimar! )onumer )an be found on the )oral reef, -he
energ! of the )oral reef )ome from the (rodu)er, -he 0oo#anthellae (rovide nutrient through
(hoto!nthei that reult in the )oral reef living entirel! off the unlight,
One food )hain in)lude the herbivore+ thee are animal that eat (lant, -he (arrot fih
feed on )oral (ol!(+ and )oral (ol!( feed on the 0oo(lan'ton, /nother food )hain in)lude
)arnivore+ thee are animal that eat animal, In thi )ae fih that eat fih, 6har'+ eat ea3
na'e+ ea3na'e eat (lan'ton,
Three !ndividual Organisms
FOOD WEB 2
-he butterfl! fih ada(t b! having a mall i0e and band a)ro their e!e and round+
e!e3li'e dot on their flan' to )onfue (redator about *hi)h end to tri'e and in *hi)h
dire)tion the! are li'el! to go, -he! li'e to eat )oral (ol!(+ *orm+ and other mall
invertebrate .Butterfl! fih+ $0114, @ariou t!(e of har' and eel love to (re! on the butterfl!
fih,
6har' love to feed among )oral reef be)aue the variet! of fih among them that travel in
)hool, Bull har' re)eive their name from their hort+ blunt nout+ and *ill ue their head to
hit (re! before atta)'ing, Bull har' are fihed *idel! for their meat+ hide+ and oil+ )auing a
de)line in (o(ulation, /))ording to :ational >eogra(hi) .$0114+ one tud! ha found that their
average length have de)lined ignifi)antl! over the (at fe* de)ade,
Aueen angel are among the mot tri'ingl! )olorful of reef fihe, -heir adornment
eem ho)'ingl! )on(i)uou+ but the! blend *ell *hen hiding amid the e#oti) reef )olor, -he!
are h! fih+ found either alone or often in (air in the *arm *ater of the Caribbean and *etern
/tlanti) .Aueenfih$0114, -he! li'e to nibble on ea fan+ oft )oral+ and even 7ell!fih5 an!
larger fih *ould feat on thi angel,
"o#ulation $roth and Regulation
Within a reef e)o!tem there are obvioul! man! organim+ *hi)h ma'e u( it
(o(ulation, -he (o(ulation gro*th *ithin a (arti)ular area of a reef )an be )ontrolled in man!
*a!, "o(ulation gro*th )an be )ontrolled in ome organim through re(rodu)tion+ (redator+
dieae+ and random a)t of nature,
/n e#am(le of thi natural regulation through re(rodu)tion )an be een in the e#am(le
of ton! )oral, /((ro#imatel! three =uarter of ton! )oral are *hat are 'no*n a broad)at
(a*ner .:O//+ $0114, -he a)t of broad)at (a*ning i the releae of both the (erm and the
FOOD WEB B
egg into the *ater )olumn, -hi leave the egg and (erm to lo)ate ea)h other *ithin the *ater
)olumn to u))efull! re(rodu)e, -he a)t of broad)at (a*ning hel( to regulate the
(o(ulation in man! *a!, Broad)at (a*ning itelf ma'e it more diffi)ult for a (erm and egg
u))efull! to find ea)h other even though the! ma! be emitted in the ame area be)aue *ater
)urrent moving them+ or the (oibilit! of fih or other organim eating them, "o(ulation i
alo 'e(t under )ontrol b! allo*ing larvae to relo)ate and tart )olonie in other lo)ation intead
of in)reaing denit! in the )olon! in *hi)h the! originated,
6ome )oral re(rodu)e in thi manner+ other )oral ma! re(rodu)e through budding+
*hi)h i a form ae#ual re(rodu)tion in *hi)h a ne* (ol!( bud i (rodu)ed b! the (arent (ol!(
.:O//+ $0114, Coral that re(rodu)e through budding tart ne* )olonie b! dividing at ome
(oint in their live+ ome of *hi)h )an be )arried to ne* lo)ation b! *ater )urrent or other
animal,
/nother *a! that ome )oral are able to re(rodu)e i through fragmentation, With
fragmentation a (ortion of a )oral i bro'en off from the main )olon!, For a fragmented (ie)e of
)oral to be u))eful in etablihing a ne* )olon! it i de(endent on finding favorable
)ondition, For intan)e+ fragment e#(oed to trong *ave a)tion *ill find it diffi)ult to ettle
on a ubtrate for )ontinued gro*th .:O//+ $0114,
Fih re(rodu)tion i tri)tl! e#ual re(rodu)tion, &an! fih re(rodu)e through an a)t of
inter)oure *here the male ineminate the female+ but ome fihe re(rodu)tion ta'e (la)e
outide of their bodie *here the female la! her egg and the male releae (erm on them to
fertili0e them, -he ma7orit! of fih *ill la! egg+ and other *ill give birth to live !oung, Fih
uuall! (rodu)e a large amount of off(ring and the reaon i man! *ill not ma'e it u))efull!
FOOD WEB ?
to adulthood, -hi )an be due to natural ele)tion in *hi)h ome of the *ea' are im(l! not
trong enough to ma'e it+ or the! )onta)t dieae,
/nother fa)tor that )an (la! a role in the regulation of a (o(ulation *ithin a reef i
through the (read of dieae, Dieae ha the (otential to affe)t an! organim *ithin a reef+ but
the more denel! (o(ulated an area of a reef ma! be+ the more (otential a dieae ha to redu)e
the (o(ulation ."o(ulation Regulation+ n,d,4, De(ending on *hether a dieae i a (e)ie3
related dieae+ or if it ha the )a(abilit! for inter(e)ie tranfer+ it )ould have the (otential to
)om(letel! *i(e out an entire reef e)o!tem,
"redator (la! a ver! im(ortant role in 'ee(ing the (o(ulation under )ontrol *ithin a
reef, Cut about ever! organim *ithin a reef !tem have ome ort of (redator, In the )ae of
)oral+ there are everal (e)ie of fih that *ill devour a )oral if the o((ortunit! (reent itelf,
Fih *ithin a reef are ub7e)t to )annibalim of their o*n 'ind in ome )ae+ being )onumed b!
larger fih *ithin the reef+ or from outide (redator .Carr+ /nderon+ D Ei#on+ $00$4, In man!
area there are not onl! har' that (atrol the reef in ear)h of (re!+ but alo other )reature
*ithin the o)ean a *ell,
Euman have the )a(a)it! to be the larger fa)tor in (o(ulation gro*th *ithin a reef,
6ome reef have been largel! affe)ted be)aue of fihing+ (oioning+ and )olle)ting of (e)imen
.Coral Reef: -heir Fun)tion+ -hreat+ and E)onomi) @alue+ n,d,4, Commer)ial fihing )an
have a drati) effe)t on (o(ulation number in area that are heavil! fihed+ both b! )ommer)ial
and (rivate fiherman, -he in)reaingl! gro*ing hobb! of home reef 'ee(ing ha alo had and
)ontinue to have an effe)t on (o(ulation of fih and )oral *ithin reef e)o!tem, -hi ha
)aued ome area to be )om(letel! tri((ed of it organim+ and in thee threatened area+ ome
agen)ie have had to te( in and to( )olle)tion, In man! )ae+ agen)ie *ill tart a
FOOD WEB 1
re(o(ulation (rogram in *hi)h the! reintrodu)e natural (e)ie ba)' into the area, &an! )oral
and fih (e)ie are )an a=ua3)ultured+ meaning that the! )an be re(rodu)ed in an a=uarium
environment+ aving the need to )olle)t them from the *ild, &an! (e)imen are till being
)olle)ted from the *ild be)aue of the role that the )olle)tion and ale of thee (e)imen ha on
the e)onom! .Coral Reef: -heir Fun)tion+ -hreat+ and E)onomi) @alue+ n,d,4
"otential %a&ards Caused 'y %umans
-he (otential ha0ard )aued b! human that affe)t the )oral reef around the *orld are
)loel! related to global *arming, In)reaed rate of )oral dieae due to *arming o)ean
tem(erature *ere found to have the highet im(a)t+ along *ith other )limate3related threat
.:ational 6)ien)e Foundation+ $0014,
Coral blea)hing i lin'ed to the *arming of the o)ean, &ot )oral )ontain ver! mall
algae )alled 0oo#anthellae+ *hi)h )olle)t their energ! from the un and the b!(rodu)t of thi
algae9 (hoto!nthei feed the )oral in *hi)h the! reide, -he releae or d!ing of thi algae
)aue *hat i 'no*n a )oral blea)hing+ in *hi)h the )oral turn ver! (ale or )om(letel! *hite
reulting in the )oral death, /))ording to :ational &arine 6an)tuarie .$00;4+ Fre(ort in 111B3
1? ho* an in)reae in *ater tem(erature that )oin)ided *ith blea)hing, /lthough human
im(a)t of thi event )annot be (roven+ it doe bring a*arene to the forefront that human mut
redu)e their a)tivitie that ma! )aue global *arming,F
Euman a)tivit!+ u)h a fihing and an)horing harm the )oral+ and (onge+ and redu)e
the i0e of fih and (o(ulation of the organim, &ainl!+ it i the develo(ment of )oat line and
agri)ulture *ith the ue of (eti)ide and fertili0er that affe)t the )oral reef be)aue of ee(age
into the ground+ runoff from the mountain or rainfall (i)' u( the ediment )ontaining the
FOOD WEB 10
)ontaminant and flo* out to the o)ean, -hee ediment blo)' unlight+ and redu)e the )oral
larva )ommunit! and a))elerate the gro*th of algae+ *hi)h 'ill the )oral reef,
Contru)tion ite that di(oe of *ate im(ro(erl! *ill ee( into the ground *ater that
*ill eventuall! move to the river+ and into the o)ean, Eeavil! gra0ed land that (rodu)e
ba)teria from the liveto)' *ill eventuall! ma'e it out to the o)ean and begin mothering the life
of the )oral reef,
In the :ational 6)ien)e Foundation .$0014 *ebite+ it re(ort that tudie of a )oral reef
in Ea*aii+ named the :orth*eter Ea*aiian Iland+ i a national monument de)lared in
$002 b! "reident >eorge W, Buh, -hi monument i one of the lat )oral reef that
human a)tivit! ha not diturbed e#)e(t for )limate )hange,
-he tudie revealed threat )aued b! human a)tivit! are invaive (e)ie+ lobter tra(
fihing+ damage from hi( and boat+ an)hor hitting and tri'ing )oral reef+ debri+ reear)h
diving+ and *ildlife 'illed for reear)h (ur(oe, -he threat )aued b! )limate )hange revealed
the effe)t of ultraviolet radiation+ a)id rain into the o)ean+ o)ean tem(erature lin'ed to dieae
outbrea' and )oral blea)hing+ and the in)reae of ea level,
/))ording to :ational 6)ien)e Foundation .$0014 Fever! !ear )oral (e)ie are infe)ted
b! more dieae+ effe)ting the (o(ulation of other (e)ie that de(end on the reef,F 6)ientit
have h!(othei0ed if )limate )hange i the reult of )oral reef d!ing off+ their tudie )on)lude
that *armer tem(erature are in)reaing the everit! of dieae in the o)ean,
FOOD WEB 11
Referen)e
/n E#(loration of the Clo*nfih, .111;3$0084, Retrieved from htt(://tol*eb,org/treehoue/G
treehoueHidI%%10
Bull 6har'$011 :ational >eogra(hi) 6o)iet!+ Retrieved from
htt(://animal,nationalgeogra(hi),)om/animal/fih/bull3har'/
Butterfl!fih $011 :ational >eogra(hi) 6o)iet!+ Retrieved from
htt(://animal,nationalgeogra(hi),)om/animal/fih/butterfl!fih/
Carr+ &, E,+ /nderon+ -, W,+ D Ei#on+ &, /, .$00$+ /ugut4, Biodiverit!+ (o(ulation
regulation+ and the tabilit! of )oral3reef fih )ommunitie, PNAS, 99.1B4+ 11$81311$8;,
doi:10,10B%/(na,12$2;%811
Coral /ntho0oa, .11123$0114, Retrieved from
htt(://animal,nationalgeogra(hi),)om/animal/invertebrate/)oral/
Coral Reef: -heir Fun)tion+ -hreat+ and E)onomi) @alue, .n,d,4, Retrieved from
htt(://earthmind,net/marine/do)/)ear3)oral3reef3value,(df
:ational &arine 6an)tuarie .$00;4,E)o!tem: Coral Reef, Retrieved from
htt(://an)tuarie,noaa,gov/about/e)o!tem/)oralim(a)t,html
:ational 6)ien)e Foundation .$0014,Human Impacts on Coral Reefs of Northwestern Hawaiian
Islands Revealed. Retrieved from htt(://***,nf,gov/ne*/ne*Humm,7(G
)ntnHidI118;%?
:O//, .$011+ &a!4, Coral Re(rodu)tion, Retrieved from
htt(://)oralreef,noaa,gov/about)oral/)oral101/re(rodu)tion/
"a(aro+ C, .$0114, 6E/EOR6E6, New Yor State Conservationist+ 22.14+ $3;, Retrieved from
EB6COhost,
FOOD WEB 1$
"o(ulation Regulation, .n,d,4, Retrieved from htt(://nm1,nm,iu(,edu/r*intea/(o(reg,htm
6alt*ater /=uarium >uide, .$0083$00?4, Retrieved from
htt(://***,alt*ater3a=uarium3guide,)om/Fih3/natom!3Internal,htm
6eahore /natom!, .$0114, Retrieved from
htt(://a=uarium,u)d,edu/Edu)ation/JearningHReour)e/6e)retHofHtheH6eahore/*f/b
od!,*f
6hedd the World9 /=uarium, .$0013$0024, Retrieved from
htt(://ea,hedda=uarium,org/ea/fa)tHheet,a(GidIB$
-he Coral Reef Food Chain .$0104+ !hin"uest.or#+ Retrieved from
htt(://librar!,thin'=uet,org/C00$$%B/)oralreef/food)hain,htm
Aueen /ngelfih.$0114+ National $eo#raphic Societ%, Retrieved from
htt(://animal,nationalgeogra(hi),)om/animal/fih/=ueen3angelfih/