Marine Food Webs

What are marine food webs?

• Simple networks of organisms in marine ecosystems

• Complex networks of organisms that transfer energy and matter through the marine environment

• Networks of organisms that only include predators and prey

• Networks of organisms that only include primary producers and consumers

What are primary producers in marine food webs?

• Large fish, marine mammals, and sharks

• Zooplankton and small fish

• Organisms that convert sunlight and nutrients into organic matter

• Organisms that feed on primary consumers

What are primary consumers in marine food webs?

• Large fish, marine mammals, and sharks

• Zooplankton and small fish

• Organisms that convert sunlight and nutrients into organic matter

• Organisms that feed on primary producers

What are top predators in marine food webs?

• Phytoplankton

• Sea otters

• Coral and oysters

• Large fish, marine mammals, and sharks

What are keystone species in marine ecosystems?

• Species that have a disproportionate impact on the structure and function of their ecosystem, despite their relatively low abundance or biomass

• Species that are found in keystone habitats, such as kelp forests

• Species that are at the top of the food web in marine ecosystems

• Species that are particularly vulnerable to overfishing

What are some examples of keystone species in marine ecosystems?

• Large fish, marine mammals, and sharks

• Sea otters and ecosystem engineers such as corals and oysters

• Phytoplankton and zooplankton

• Clams and mussels

What is predation in marine ecosystems?

• A positive interaction between species where both species benefit

• An interaction between species that compete for resources

• An interaction where a predator kills and eats its prey

• An interaction where different species share a habitat

What is competition in marine ecosystems?

• A positive interaction between species where both species benefit

• An interaction between species that compete for resources

• An interaction where a predator kills and eats its prey

• An interaction where different species share a habitat

What is mutualism in marine ecosystems?

• A positive interaction between species where both species benefit

• An interaction between species that compete for resources

• An interaction where a predator kills and eats its prey

• An interaction where different species share a habitat

Why is understanding the role of keystone species important?

• It helps us to identify which species to fish commercially

• It helps us to understand the structure and function of marine ecosystems

• It helps us to understand which species are at risk of extinction

• It helps us to understand which species are most valuable to humans