Teachers' Domain; Hewlett Collection; Energy Flow in the Coral Reef Ecosystem

Coral reefs are usually found in tropical waters near the surface because the energy from the sun to survive. The plants and algae there convert light energy into chemical energy through photosynthesis as fish and other creatures and each other energy is passed on through the food chain. The Reef could not exist without coral. Each small circle of coral is made up of many organisms. The brown spots here are plants and. They live inside the coral organisms. The plant cells collect energy from the sun through photosynthesis. This provides oxygen and sugar for the coral organisms to feed on the organisms grow. The call that forms a compartment of calcium carbonate Mineral the polyps each live in their individual compartments like neighbors in an apartment building. Each college has a mob surrounded by stinging tentacles

during the day. The corals algae cells photosynthesize but at night the polyps extend their tentacles to feed on plankton tiny organisms that drift in the water. Need another creature that feeds on plankton the spiny blenny watches for plankton that may drift close enough to be snatched. When this parrot fish takes a large bite of coral rock it is actually to feed on the pollen. The fish is able to extract the living coral by chewing it up with its extra set of internal jaws. Parrot fish create much of the sand at the bottom of the reef. The sea cucumber eats the sand and collects algae and organic debris from it. Creatures like the sea cucumber the reefs floor stays clean the ruffled sea slug like the coral organism has a double diet. It both eats plants and gets energy from the sun. The ruffles

on its back act like a solar collector. They are filled with chloroplasts the organelles also carry out photosynthesis and plant cells. The slug spends less time looking for food because it can get energy from the sun in the daytime. Were it not for the plant eaters or herbivores the reef might be overgrown with algae the long spined sea urchin helps keep the algae in check by day. It stays close to the coral. Its mouth is conveniently located on its underside for easy grazing. The urchin is well protected but less fortunate herbivores must watch out for flesh eating or carnivorous predators. The great Barracuda cruises over head hunting at dawn and dusk. The moral is generally nocturnal and spends its days lurking in case

it comes out at night to feed on small fish. The yellow tail but it is a mighty hunter. All the predators in the reef. It is the most abundant. One day. This predator too may become prey. It may die of old age and make a meal for scavengers in the coral reef as in all ecosystems will have flowed from the sun to the plants to herbivores carnivores and decompose.