Florida Mangroves Food Web

Mangroves are an important plant species that hundreds if not thousands of marine life depend upon for survival.
Florida mangroves food web. However odum et al. This provides a food source for marine life including economically important shrimp crabs and fish. 1982 have stressed that in spite of innumerable studies the florida food chain model remains hypothetical and qualitative. Algae play a vital role in mangrove community food webs.
A generalized food web in mangrove ecosystem is depicted in the figure below. Mangroves food web high school 6 national common core standards mangroves food web the following national common core standards can be met teaching exploring the mangroves food web. An estimated 75 of the game fish and 90 of the commercial species in south florida are dependent upon the mangrove system during at least part of their life cycles. There are over 400 000 acres of mangrove forests that map along the coastal areas of florida.
It is not only a keystone species considered a mangrove food web but it also provides a habitat for migrating birds. Indeed some recent data from the indo west pacific region suggests that the caribbean model requires some modifications. Others like the tube worm and bristle worm also do this. Ccss ela literacy l 8 4 determine or clarify the meaning of unknown and multiple meaning words or.
This role is mainly filled by the smaller creatures such as the burrowing crab and the snapping shrimp. The mangrove food web it all starts with the mangrove leaves that fall in the water and decompose creating a rich nutrient environment for crabs shrimp small fish and many other marine species. Provide food for bigger fish turtles and for the shore birds that also come to feed in the shallow waters. These small creatures fish crabs etc.