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The pelagic food web, showing the central involvement of marine microorganisms in how the ocean imports nutrients from and then exports them back to the atmosphere and ocean floor. A marine food web is a food web of marine life. At the base of the ocean food web are single-celled algae and other plant-like organisms known as phytoplankton.
A freshwater aquatic food web. The blue arrows show a complete food chain (algae → daphnia → gizzard shad → largemouth bass → great blue heron). A food web is the natural interconnection of food chains and a graphical representation of what-eats-what in an ecological community.
The microbial food web refers to the combined trophic interactions among microbes in aquatic environments. These microbes include viruses, bacteria, algae, heterotrophic protists (such as ciliates and flagellates). [1] In aquatic ecosystems, microbial food webs are essential because they form the basis for the cycling of nutrients and energy.
They include algae (autotrophs which make their own food) and protozoans (heterotrophs which eat the algae for food). In recent years, researchers have discovered many protists are mixotrophs , which can function in both modes.
The food industry exploits the gelling, water-retention, emulsifying and other physical properties of these hydrocolloids. [6] Most edible seaweeds are marine algae whereas most freshwater algae are toxic. Some marine algae contain acids that irritate the digestion canal, while others can have a laxative and electrolyte-balancing effect. [7]
Sea lettuce as a food for humans is eaten raw in salads and cooked in soups. It is high in protein , soluble dietary fiber , and a variety of vitamins and minerals , especially iron . [ 5 ] However, contamination with toxic heavy metals at certain sites where it can be collected makes it dangerous for human consumption.
This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: Swimming safety: sewage overflow, algae blooms, how to know water is OK Show comments Advertisement
Food chain in a Swedish lake. Osprey feed on northern pike, which in turn feed on perch which eat bleak which eat crustaceans.. A food chain is a linear network of links in a food web, often starting with an autotroph (such as grass or algae), also called a producer, and typically ending at an apex predator (such as grizzly bears or killer whales), detritivore (such as earthworms and woodlice ...