Tokyo Urban Food Web
Urban
Tokyo, Japan
Description
Tokyo's urban food web demonstrates how megacity ecosystems support adapted wildlife despite extreme human density. Jungle crows, raccoon dogs, and koi carp exploit urban resources, while carefully managed urban parks and the Imperial Palace grounds serve as green refugia. The city's vast urban forest canopy along streets supports significant bird diversity.
Trophic Pyramid
Level 5
Decomposers
Urban soil bacteria
Park fungi
Garden invertebrates
3 species
Level 4
Tertiary Consumers
Goshawk
Peregrine falcon
2 species
Level 3
Secondary Consumers
Large-billed crow
Raccoon dog
Japanese rat snake
3 species
Level 2
Primary Consumers
Brown-eared bulbul
Feral rock pigeon
Cicadas
3 species
Level 1
Producers
Zelkova street trees
Park cherry blossoms
Urban lawn grasses
3 species
Apex Predators
Tertiary Consumers
Secondary Consumers
Primary Consumers
Producers
Key Interactions
- Large-billed crows use cars at crosswalks to crack walnuts
- Raccoon dogs forage in residential areas for food waste and garden invertebrates
- Goshawks nest in Meiji Shrine forest and hunt pigeons across the city
- Imperial Palace grounds function as a green island supporting wintering bird populations