Congo Rainforest Food Web
Terrestrial
Tropical & Subtropical Moist Broadleaf Forests
Central Africa — Democratic Republic of Congo, Republic of Congo, Cameroon, Gabon
Description
The Congo Basin contains the second-largest tropical rainforest on Earth, spanning six countries. Unlike the Amazon, the Congo forest has a relatively intact megafauna including forest elephants, gorillas, and okapi. Fruiting trees drive seasonal movements of primates and elephants, which in turn disperse seeds across the landscape.
Trophic Pyramid
Level 5
Decomposers
Driver ants
Saprotrophic fungi
Millipedes
3 species
Level 4
Tertiary Consumers
Leopard
African rock python
2 species
Level 3
Secondary Consumers
Crowned eagle
African golden cat
Gaboon viper
3 species
Level 2
Primary Consumers
Western lowland gorilla
Okapi
Forest elephant
3 species
Level 1
Producers
Gilbertiodendron trees
Oil palms
Forest floor herbs
3 species
Apex Predators
Tertiary Consumers
Secondary Consumers
Primary Consumers
Producers
Key Interactions
- Forest elephants disperse seeds of large-fruited trees over vast distances
- Gorillas shape forest structure through selective herbivory and nest building
- Crowned eagles are the primary predators of forest monkeys
- Driver ant swarms flush insects and small vertebrates for army ant birds