FeedingGuilds: Difference between revisions
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The "[relationship] between different organisms can be described by their trophic associations." On the most fundamental level, trophic associations describe "what an organism eats and what eats it."<ref name="sumich">Sumich, James L. An Introduction to the Biology of Marine Life, Seventh Edition. WCB/McGraw Hill. 1999.</ref> All organisms can be divided into three different categories: producers, consumers, and decomposers. < ref name="sumich" /><ref>Tackett, Denise and Larry. <b>Reef Life: Natural History and Behaviors of Marine Fishes and Invertebrates</b>. Neptune City, NJ: T.F.H Publications, 2002, p. 117-118. Print.</ref> | The "[relationship] between different organisms can be described by their trophic associations." On the most fundamental level, trophic associations describe "what an organism eats and what eats it."<ref name="sumich">Sumich, James L. An Introduction to the Biology of Marine Life, Seventh Edition. WCB/McGraw Hill. 1999.</ref> All organisms can be divided into three different categories: producers, consumers, and decomposers. <ref name="sumich" /><ref>Tackett, Denise and Larry. <b>Reef Life: Natural History and Behaviors of Marine Fishes and Invertebrates</b>. Neptune City, NJ: T.F.H Publications, 2002, p. 117-118. Print.</ref> | ||
*Autotrophs - "self-nourishing organisms capable of absorbing solar energy and photosynthetically building high-energy organic substances" <ref name="sumich" /> A classic example of an autotroph on the reef are [[zooxanthellae]]. | *Autotrophs - "self-nourishing organisms capable of absorbing solar energy and photosynthetically building high-energy organic substances" <ref name="sumich" /> A classic example of an autotroph on the reef are [[zooxanthellae]]. | ||
Revision as of 12:23, 28 May 2013
Feeding Guilds
The "[relationship] between different organisms can be described by their trophic associations." On the most fundamental level, trophic associations describe "what an organism eats and what eats it."[1] All organisms can be divided into three different categories: producers, consumers, and decomposers. [1][2]
- Autotrophs - "self-nourishing organisms capable of absorbing solar energy and photosynthetically building high-energy organic substances" [1] A classic example of an autotroph on the reef are zooxanthellae.
- Heterotrophs
- Herbivores
- Carnivores
- Omnivores
- Detritivores
- Filter/Suspension feeders
- Planktivores
- Opportunistic feeders
- Parasites