Pantanal Wetland Food Web
Wetland
Flooded Grasslands & Savannas
South America — Brazil, Bolivia, and Paraguay
Description
The Pantanal in South America is the world's largest tropical wetland, flooding seasonally over an area exceeding 150,000 square kilometers. This flood pulse drives an extraordinarily productive food web where jaguars have adapted to hunt caimans in shallow water. The seasonal cycle concentrates fish into drying pools, attracting massive congregations of wading birds.
Trophic Pyramid
Level 5
Decomposers
Aquatic bacteria
Detritivorous fish
Fungi
3 species
Level 4
Tertiary Consumers
Jaguar
Anaconda
Harpy eagle
3 species
Level 3
Secondary Consumers
Yacare caiman
Giant otter
Jabiru stork
3 species
Level 2
Primary Consumers
Capybara
Piranha
Marsh deer
3 species
Level 1
Producers
Water hyacinth
Victoria amazonica
Aquatic grasses
3 species
Apex Predators
Tertiary Consumers
Secondary Consumers
Primary Consumers
Producers
Key Interactions
- Jaguars ambush yacare caimans from riverbanks in specialized hunting behavior
- Giant otters hunt cooperatively in family groups targeting large fish
- Seasonal flooding concentrates fish into drying pools attracting predators
- Capybaras are the primary prey for jaguars, caimans, and anacondas