Sundarbans Mangrove Food Web
Mangrove
Mangroves
Bangladesh and India — Ganges-Brahmaputra Delta
Description
The Sundarbans is the world's largest mangrove forest, spanning the Ganges-Brahmaputra delta across Bangladesh and India. Mangrove roots create a complex three-dimensional habitat that serves as a nursery for marine fish and crustaceans. This food web uniquely supports the Bengal tiger, which swims between islands and preys on deer and fish.
Trophic Pyramid
Level 5
Decomposers
Mangrove crabs
Fungi
Detritivorous shrimp
3 species
Level 4
Tertiary Consumers
Bengal tiger
Saltwater crocodile
Bull shark
3 species
Level 3
Secondary Consumers
Water monitor
Fishing cat
Mangrove pit viper
3 species
Level 2
Primary Consumers
Mud crab
Chital deer
Fiddler crab
3 species
Level 1
Producers
Sundari mangrove
Phytoplankton
Mangrove leaf litter
3 species
Apex Predators
Tertiary Consumers
Secondary Consumers
Primary Consumers
Producers
Key Interactions
- Bengal tigers swim between mangrove islands to hunt chital deer
- Mangrove leaf litter forms the detrital base of the estuarine food chain
- Mud crabs process leaf litter and are prey for monitor lizards and tigers
- Saltwater crocodiles are ambush predators at the water's edge