Coral Reef Atoll Lagoon Food Web
Coral Reef
Central Pacific — Tuamotu, Marshall Islands, Kiribati
Description
Coral atoll lagoons in the central Pacific are sheltered marine environments surrounded by reef crests that break oceanic waves. These lagoons support distinct food webs from the outer reef, with patch reefs, sand flats, and seagrass providing diverse habitats. Blacktip reef sharks patrol the shallow lagoon while giant clams filter-feed on the bottom.
Trophic Pyramid
Level 5
Decomposers
Lagoon bacteria
Detritivorous worms
Sand-dwelling invertebrates
3 species
Level 4
Tertiary Consumers
Blacktip reef shark
Grey reef shark
2 species
Level 3
Secondary Consumers
Napoleon wrasse
Green moray
Crown-of-thorns starfish
3 species
Level 2
Primary Consumers
Giant clam
Surgeonfish
Sea cucumber
3 species
Level 1
Producers
Lagoon seagrass
Patch reef corals
Benthic microalgae
3 species
Apex Predators
Tertiary Consumers
Secondary Consumers
Primary Consumers
Producers
Key Interactions
- Giant clams cultivate zooxanthellae in their mantle tissue for photosynthetic energy
- Blacktip reef sharks hunt in shallow lagoon water, often with fins exposed above the surface
- Crown-of-thorns starfish outbreaks can devastate patch reef corals in lagoons
- Lagoon seagrass traps sediment and provides nursery habitat for juvenile fish