Diving into a living, connected world
Yet each is part of a whole.
Organisms feed, provide food for others, transform matter, provide shelter or alter their environment.
An ecosystem therefore works through relationships between many species.
A few examples help us recognise the major marine groups:
These groups do not each perform just one role. A single phylum may include species with different diets and ecological functions.
Algae and plants
Sponges
Cnidarians
Bryozoans
Molluscs
Crustaceans
Echinoderms
Tunicates
Fish
Algae and plants such as Posidonia carry out photosynthesis.
Using light energy, they make their organic matter from mineral substances.
They also produce oxygen and directly or indirectly provide food for many organisms.
Seagrass meadows and some algal formations also offer shelter to many species.
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