What is the food web in the intertidal zone?
In the intertidal zone, the food chain begins with phytoplankton, microorganisms that use photosynthesis to create energy from the sun. These are usually consumed by zooplankton, which in turn is eaten by mussels, barnacles or other invertebrate.
Who was at the top of the intertidal food chain?
Fish were the dominant top consumers (TL > 2.0), along with an important number of gastropods and crustaceans (both crabs and shrimp).
What are the main producers in the intertidal zone?
The primary producers on the mud and sand flats include: microalgae such as diatoms, cyanobacteria (blue-green algae), bacteria, and macroalgae (Figure 2). Algae found living on mud and sand flats are referred to as benthic algae to describe their mode of living on the bot- tom.
What is a primary consumer in the intertidal zone?
Some of the main consumers in the intertidal zone are sea urchins, green crabs, mollusk, and anemone. The herbivores in the intertidal zone are primarily sea urchins, including helmet urchins, as well as littorines, nerites, cowries and opihi.
Is a barnacle a producer or consumer?
| phytoplankton producer—food: nutrients, sun’s energy | hawkfish level 3 consumer—food: barnacle, blenny |
|---|---|
| zooplankton level 1 consumer—food: phytoplankton | tern level 2 consumer—food: mullet |
| mullet level 1 consumer—food: phytoplankton | fin whale level 2 consumer—food: zooplankton |
Is a barnacle a decomposer?
Barnacles, mussels, and many other creatures are filter feeders. They stay in one place. There, they filter small pieces of food out of the water. Fungi are among the most important decomposers in woodland.
What eats seaweed in intertidal zone?
Periwinkle and other marine snails Marine snails are some of the most familiar Mollusks. There are two species of periwinkle snails in our area – the Sitka (Littorina sitkana) and checkered periwinkles (Littorina scutulata). Both are grazers on seaweeds.
Do algae and barnacles compete for space on intertidal rocks?
The intertidal community is the one that comprises of organisms that live in the area that’s covered with water at high tides. This means that there are also spaces that are exposed to air at the time of low tides. Algae and mussels do compete for the space while on intertidal.
Are jellyfish secondary consumers?
Fish, jellyfish and crustaceans are common secondary consumers, although basking sharks and some whales also feed on the zooplankton.
Is Clam a producer?
Nutley, New Jersey, U.S. Michael Volpe (born May 12, 1987), known professionally as Clams Casino, is an American record producer and songwriter from Nutley, New Jersey. Volpe is currently signed to Columbia Records and Sony Music.
Are whelks consumers?
Whelks are voracious consumers of mussels, despite being much smaller than their prey.