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Producer

A diverse group of primarily aquatic, photosynthetic organisms that can range from microscopic single cells to large seaweeds, lacking true roots, stems, and leaves, and considered a type of protist, playing a crucial role in the food chain by producing oxygen through photosynthesis

Algae use sunlight to produce their own food through photosynthesis, like plants

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Producer

Microscopic, plant-like organisms that float in the water and are the base of the aquatic food web

They contain chlorophyll, a pigment that allows them to capture sunlight and use it to convert carbon dioxide into energy, similar to plants on land

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Producer

Any of numerous one-celled aquatic organisms bearing two dissimilar flagella and having characteristics of both plants and animals

Many species have a theca, a protective covering made of cellulose plates, giving them an armored appearance.

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Producer

Microscopic, unicellular organisms that have a cell wall made of silicon dioxide

Diatoms have a cell wall made of silicon dioxide, also known as silica. This cell wall is called a frustule and is made of two parts, or valves, that fit together like a pill box.

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Producer

Large brown algae that live in cool, relatively shallow waters close to the shore.

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Producer

A general term for many types of marine plants and algae that grow in water

Seaweed is a vital part of marine ecosystems, providing food, shelter, and breeding grounds for many organisms.

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Producer

Microscopic organisms that are photosynthetic and technically classified as bacteria

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Producers- Algae, Phytoplankton, dinoflagellates, diatoms, kelp, seaweed, cyanobacteria, and mixotrophic

Primary Consumer- Zooplankton, shrimp, sea slugs, clams, sea urchins, sea turtles, parrot fish, sea stars

Secondary Consumer- Cod, jellyfish, lobster, crayfish, herring, tuna, crabs, and squid

Tertiary Consumer- Macro shark, orca, blue whale, sword fish, marlin, barracuda, dolphin, and narwhal

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1. The underwater climate of my aquatic ecosystem is tropical region.

2. The water temperature is 75-80 degrees Fahrenheit, the salinity is low, the movement of the water is subtle it has small waves, its depth is 6,000 feet, and the watercolor is a clear blue.

3. My ecosystem receives 8 to 10 hours of sunlight a day

4. They live in the neritic zone

5. My water source is freshwater

6. Yes, my ecosystem is connected to a freshwater source

7. During the winter sea levels fall and during the fall sea levels are high

8. The entire food chain would fall apart if the primary consumers went extinct. Predators wouldn't have anything to eat, and plants would continuously grow. Numerous species will go extinct from primary consumers going extinct, it would cause a major disruption in the ecosystem.

9. Removing decomposers would be the same as eliminating the ecosystem's garbage collectors. The entire system would become unclean, unhealthy, and useless as a result. Animals would go hungry, plants would have trouble growing, and the ecosystem's balance would be disrupted.

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Producer

Mode of nutrition that combines autotrophic and heterotrophic processes in a single organism

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Primary consumer

Tiny animals that live in water and drift with ocean currents and winds

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Primary Consumer

Small crustaceans with long legs, a hard shell, and a flexible abdomen

Shrimp are primary consumers that feed on photosynthetic organisms.

They eat producers, like algae and seaweed

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Primary consumer

Soft-bodied marine mollusks that are colorful and come in many shapes and sizes

Sea slugs can be herbivores or carnivores, and eat a variety of foods including algae, sponges, anemones, and other sea slugs.

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Primary consumer

Shellfish with two hinged shells that filter food from water

Clams live in both freshwater and marine environments

Clams are filter feeders that trap plankton, algae, and other small particles from the water

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Primary Consumer

Spiny, round, and globular marine invertebrates that live in the ocean

Sea urchins primarily eat algae, but they also eat slow-moving or sessile animals

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Primary consumer

Marine reptiles with streamlined bodies, large flippers, and hard shells

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Primary consumer

Tropical fish with vibrant colors and beak-like plates in their mouths

They live in coral reefs around the world and are herbivores that eat algae and coral

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Primary Consumer

Marine invertebrates that are not fish

They have tube feet on the underside of their bodies that help them move and grip prey.

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Secondary consumer

Cod are heavy-bodied fish with a blunt snout, large head, and a whisker-like organ called a barbel under their lower jaw.

Cod live near the ocean floor in temperate climates, along rocky slopes and ledges.

Cod are a top predator in the ocean, feeding on fish and invertebrates.

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Secondary Consumer

Gelatinous invertebrates that float in the ocean and have stinging tentacles. They are made up of more than 95% water and lack a brain, heart, blood, and gills.

Jellyfish hunt passively by using their tentacles to stun or kill prey.

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Secondary consumer

Crustaceans with long bodies, muscular tails, and multiple pairs of legs

Lobsters are opportunistic feeders that eat whatever is available, including crabs, mollusks, worms, sea urchins, sea stars, fish, and macroalgae.

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Secondary consumer

Small, freshwater crustaceans with 10 legs, large pincers, and a powerful tail

Crayfish are generalist feeders that eat detritus, their own feces, and other crayfish

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Secondary consumer

Small to medium-sized fish with silvery sides and blue-green backs

Herring are an important part of the food web in the northwest Atlantic Ocean.

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Secondary consumer

Fish with torpedo-shaped bodies, smooth skin, and streamlined fins

Tuna are top predators that feed on fish, crustaceans, and squid

Tuna are prey for sharks, rays, larger tunas, and billfish

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Secondary consumer

Arthropods with flat, round bodies, hard shells, and 10 legs

Crabs can be found in oceans, fresh water, and on land.

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Secondary Consumer

Invertebrates with long, slender bodies, large eyes, and tentacles. They are part of the cephalopod group of mollusks, which also includes octopuses and cuttlefish.

Squid use their tentacles to grab prey, then use their sharp beak to tear it into smaller pieces.

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Tertiary Consumer

A sleek spindle shaped shark with a long conical snout.

Prey on fast moving pelagic fishes such as tunas and swordfish

Also consume squid, other sharks, and rarely marine turtles and mammals

Are often seen breaching the water surface when feeding

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Tertiary consumer

Long, muscular fish with sharp teeth and torpedo-shaped bodies

Barracudas are carnivores that eat other fish, plankton, and invertebrates.

They are often found near coral reefs, seagrasses, and mangroves

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Tertiary consumer

Eat squid, tuna, mackerel, dolphin, and flying fish

Can take prey as large as white marlin, yellowfin, and bigeye tuna

Highly migratory and follow warm ocean currents for hundreds or thousands of miles

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Tertiary consumer

Large, predatory fish with a torpedo-shaped body, sharp teeth, and distinctive eyes

Walleyes are nocturnal, preferring to stay in deep water during the day and move to shallow waters at night.

Walleye are carnivorous and feed on a variety of fish, crayfish, leeches, mollusks, worms, and insects.

Walleye spawn in early spring over gravel or rocks in rivers or shallows.

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Tertiary consumer

Fast-swimming fish with streamlined bodies and distinctive markings.

Mackerel eat plankton, small fish, and sometimes their own young.

Mackerel are an important food source for marine predators such as whales, dolphins, tuna, seals, and sharks.

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Tertiary consumer

A type of black bass with a laterally compressed body, olive-brown color, and a smaller mouth than largemouth bass.

Smallmouth bass are apex predators that eat insects, crayfish, amphibians, and other fish

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Tertiary consumer

Marine mammals with torpedo-shaped bodies, smooth skin, and flippers

Dolphins use echolocation to hunt prey such as fish, squid, and crustaceans

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Tertiary Consumer

Pinnipeds, which are semi-aquatic marine mammals with flippers and ear flaps

Sea lions are adaptive hunters that may develop unique strategies depending on where they live

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Decomposer

A group of invertebrates with segmented bodies, hard exoskeletons, and jointed appendages

They are an important prey source for marine animals like whales, fish, and pinnipeds

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Decomposer

Invertebrates that live in the ocean, seas, and estuaries. They are soft-bodied, segmented worms with a head and tail. They have a digestive, circulatory, and nervous system.

Marine worms can be herbivores, carnivores, parasites, detritivores, or filter feeders.

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Decomposer

Soft-bodied invertebrates with a muscular foot or tentacles for movement

Mollusks can be found in oceans, freshwater bodies, and on land.

Some mollusks live in shallow water, while others prefer deep water.

Mollusks provide habitat and protection for other organisms

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Decomposer

Soft-bodied, cylindrical invertebrates that are part of the echinoderm phylum.

Sea cucumbers are scavengers that eat small particles of algae and marine animals

Sea cucumbers eat debris and sediment, which helps keep the ocean healthy and balanced

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Decomposer

Eel-like marine creatures with slimy skin, no jaws, and a cartilaginous skeleton

Scavengers that eat carrion and small invertebrates

Hagfish help recycle nutrients and carbon in the deep ocean.

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Decomposer

Eukaryotic organisms that are heterotrophic, non-vascular, and spore-forming

They are essential to ecosystems because they break down dead and decaying matter, recycling nutrients back into the environment.

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Decomposer

Invertebrates with soft, cylindrical bodies that are topped by a ring of tentacles around a mouth

Sea anemones contribute to the health and resilience of coral reefs.

They play a significant role in nitrogen cycling within the reef ecosystem.

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Decomposer

Single-celled microorganisms that are found all over the world. They are vital to the planet's ecosystems

Bacteria are the primary decomposers in the ocean, breaking down organic matter from dead plants and animals, releasing nutrients back into the water column for other organisms to use

Bacteria play a crucial role in the cycling of essential elements like carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, and sulfur, ensuring their availability for other marine life.