Primary Producer: Phytoplankton
Phytoplankton are microscopic plants that form the base of the marine food web. They produce their food through photosynthesis.
Primary Consumer: Herring
Herring feed on phytoplankton as herbivorous fish.
Secondary Consumer: Shrimp
Shrimp are omnivorous and consume herring as well as detritus (dead organic matter).
Tertiary Consumer: Swordfish
Swordfish are carnivorous and prey on shrimp and other smaller fish such as herring.
Apex Predator: Halibut
Halibut are large, predatory fish that occupy the top of the food chain and feed on a variety of species, including swordfish and other smaller fish.
This simplified marine food web illustrates the flow of energy and nutrients in a marine ecosystem. Phytoplankton support the entire food web by converting sunlight into food, and each level of consumers depends on the lower trophic levels for sustenance.