Great Barrier Reef Food Web
Coral Reef
Coral Sea — Northeastern Australia
Description
The Great Barrier Reef is the world's largest coral reef system, spanning over 2,300 km and supporting thousands of species. Symbiotic zooxanthellae algae within coral tissues produce the primary energy, while complex trophic links connect invertebrates, reef fish, and large marine predators. Crown-of-thorns starfish outbreaks periodically disrupt this food web.
Trophic Pyramid
Level 5
Decomposers
Sea cucumbers
Detritivorous worms
Bacteria
3 species
Level 4
Tertiary Consumers
Reef shark
Barracuda
Grouper
3 species
Level 3
Secondary Consumers
Moray eel
Octopus
Lionfish
3 species
Level 2
Primary Consumers
Parrotfish
Sea urchins
Giant clam
3 species
Level 1
Producers
Zooxanthellae algae
Coralline algae
Seagrass
3 species
Apex Predators
Tertiary Consumers
Secondary Consumers
Primary Consumers
Producers
Key Interactions
- Parrotfish graze on algae, preventing coral overgrowth and promoting reef health
- Crown-of-thorns starfish consume coral tissue during population outbreaks
- Cleaner wrasses remove parasites from larger fish in mutualistic relationships
- Reef sharks regulate mesopredator populations through top-down control