Brazilian Cerrado Food Web
Terrestrial
Tropical & Subtropical Grasslands, Savannas & Shrublands
Central Brazil — Goias, Minas Gerais, Mato Grosso, Bahia
Description
The Cerrado is a vast tropical savanna covering 21% of Brazil, with biodiversity rivaling the Amazon for plant species. Deep-rooted trees and grasses access deep water tables, sustaining productivity through the dry season. Giant anteaters, maned wolves, and jaguars share this landscape with over 12,000 plant species, 44% of which are endemic.
Trophic Pyramid
Level 5
Decomposers
Termite colonies
Cerrado fungi
Dung beetles
3 species
Level 4
Tertiary Consumers
Jaguar
Harpy eagle
2 species
Level 3
Secondary Consumers
Maned wolf
Crab-eating fox
Tegu lizard
3 species
Level 2
Primary Consumers
Giant anteater
Leaf-cutter ants
Tapir
3 species
Level 1
Producers
Cerrado grasses
Pau-terra trees
Buriti palm
3 species
Apex Predators
Tertiary Consumers
Secondary Consumers
Primary Consumers
Producers
Key Interactions
- Giant anteaters consume up to 35,000 termites and ants per day
- Maned wolves are omnivores that depend heavily on the wolf apple fruit
- Fire maintains open cerrado structure and stimulates grass resprouting
- Soybean agriculture has converted over 50% of the cerrado, fragmenting food webs