West African Upwelling Marine Food Web
Marine
Northwest Africa — Morocco, Mauritania, Senegal
Description
The Canary Current upwelling system off northwest Africa is one of the four major eastern boundary upwelling ecosystems, supporting some of the world's richest fisheries. Cold, nutrient-laden deep water rises along the continental shelf, driving phytoplankton production that feeds sardine and anchovy stocks relied upon by millions of West Africans.
Trophic Pyramid
Level 5
Decomposers
Pelagic bacteria
Mesopelagic scavengers
Benthic worms
3 species
Level 4
Tertiary Consumers
Swordfish
Bluefin tuna
Monk seal
3 species
Level 3
Secondary Consumers
European hake
Horse mackerel
Common dolphin
3 species
Level 2
Primary Consumers
European sardine
Anchovy
Copepods
3 species
Level 1
Producers
Chain diatoms
Coccolithophores
Dinoflagellates
3 species
Apex Predators
Tertiary Consumers
Secondary Consumers
Primary Consumers
Producers
Key Interactions
- Upwelling-driven phytoplankton blooms support some of Earth's densest sardine populations
- Sardine and anchovy stocks fluctuate with upwelling intensity on decadal scales
- Mediterranean monk seals, critically endangered, forage in upwelling waters
- Industrial fishing competes with seabirds and marine mammals for small pelagic fish