Food Web

African Butterfly Fish

Description of Fish

African butterfly fish are small, no more than 13 cm (5.1 in) in length, with very large pectoral fish. It has a large and well-vascularized swim bladder, enabling it to breathe air at the surface of the water. It is carnivorous, feeding primarily on aquatic insects and smaller fishes.

The African butterflyfish is a specialized surface hunter. Its eyes are constantly trained to the surface and its upturned mouth is specifically adapted to capture small prey glide along the water's surface. If enough speed is built up in the water, a butterflyfish can jump and g a small distance above the surface to avoid predation. It also wiggles its pectoral fins as it glides, with the help of specialized, enlarged pectoral muscles, the ability which earned the fish its common name.

When African butterflyfish spawn, they produce a mass of large floating eggs at the surface. Fertilisation is believed to be internal. Eggs hatch in about seven days.

Interesting Facts

Strips for camouflaging well.

Its fins are silvery brown shade and are marked with dark lines, earning the name 'african butterfly fish'

Importance of role in the eco system

To balance the eco-system

Food chain

Oats-> Crickets->African Butterfly Fish -> Shark

Threats

There are currently no threats available

Conservation

There seems to be no conservation for this species.

walking catfish

         WALKING CATFISH

·        a species of freshwater air breathing catfish

·        mostly found in south east asia

·        considered as a invasive species

·        able to walk on dry land to find food and a new environment

How does it walk on land ?

·        uses its pectoral fins to keep it upright

·        wiggles in a snake like moition to stay moist

·        lives in slow moving and stagnant waters like ponds, swamps, streams, rivers, flooded rice paddies, temporary pools

            How does it look like?

^·         Elongated body

^·         Skin covered with small white spots

^·         Skin colour is gray or grayish brown

^·         Long based dorsal and anal fins, some pairs of sensory barbells

^·         Scaleless skin that is covered with mucus to protect the fish when it is out of water

What does it eat?

·       It feeds on smaller fish,  molluscs, and other invertebrates, also detritus and aquatic weeds

·       It can consume food really rapidly

·       Also it can be harmful when invasive

·       Most people in Thailand eat this fish since it is commonly found there and it  is inexpensive

·       Street vendors either barbecue or fried and sold

·       It is banned from putting it in aquariums and keeping them in some places in the world

      
Food chain
Algae---->snail-----> walking catfish-----> shark

 

Rose Fish

Description of Rose Fish

Rose fish ( Sebastes norvegicus ) is a species of rockfish from the North Atlantic that lives off the coast of Europe and North America. Adults are sociable types of fishes and are of commercial importance. Adults are usually orange to flame red in colour while the younger ones are just redish in colour.

Interesting facts

They can live in a wide range of temperatures. They grow very slowly- within over just one year, they only grew 2 ½ inches long, only maturing when they are 8 years old or more.

Importance/ role of that species in the ecosystem

They eat small fishes hence keeping them in suitable numbers in them. 

Threats to the species

They are in heavy demand because they can be frozen and filleted easily too. Many are being captured by commercial fisherman in millions of numbers for people to eat. Only rose fish that are about 8-9 years old can be for the commercial, thus, not many have the chance to mate and reproduce.

Conservation of the species

Many rose fish for commercial uses are grown in farms instead of wild ones that may cause an imbalance in the ecosystem when fished in heavy numbers

FOOD CHAIN

Plankton -> Shrimp -> Rosefish -> Shark

Seahorse

                                                              

Seahorse 

 

Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii

Scientific Name: Hippocampus kuda

a. Description

Hippocampus kuda, also known as the common seahorse, estuary seahorse, or yellow seahorse is a member of the family Syngnathidae (seahorses and pipefishes) of the order Syngnathiformes. The common seahorse is a small, equine-like fish, with extraordinary breeding methods.Common seahorses have very small mouths, eating only small animals like brine shrimp and even newborn guppies. Daphnia is eaten when other foods are unavailable.

b. Interesting facts:)

• Greeks and Romans believed the seahorse was an attribute of the sea god Poseidon/Neptune, and the seahorse was considered a symbol of strength and power.
• Europeans believed that the seahorse carried the souls of deceased sailors to the underworld, giving them safe passage and protection until they met their soul's destination.
• The common seahorse is considered a vulnerable species.
• Seahorse spend most of their time anchoring to coral reefs and branches with their tails, made necessary because they are poor swimmers.

c. Role of seahorse in the ecosystem

They help to keep the algae population down by eating them and providing food for other predatory fish.

d.Food chain
Algae ----> Guppies ---->  Seahorse ----> Tuna

f.Threats to the seahorses

 Most of the members of the family Syngnathidae are weak swimmers. During heavy storms and hurricanes, they are washed ashore or exhaust themselves swimming.Seahorses and pipefishes depend upon specific habitats for camouflage, their primary defense mechanism . Unfortunately, all of the habitats which seahorses and pipefishes called home are facing destruction .Pollution, rising sea temperatures, and other factors are destroying coral reef, mangroves and seagrass beds at an alarming rate.

 

 

g.Conservation of the species
 
The common seahorse is now commercially cultured to help cope with the demand for seahorses for traditional Chinese medicines,souvenirs, and the aquarium industry.

 

Guppies

A.Description of guppies(Poecilia reticulata)

-also known as million fish and rainbow fish

-one of the world's most widely distributed tropical fish

-and is also one of the most popular freshwater aquarium

fish species

- member of the Poeciliidae family

-natural range is in northeast South America

-now found all over the world

-highly adaptable and thrive in many different 

environmental and ecological conditions

-Male guppies are smaller than females

-females are duller in colour

-Wild guppies generally feed on a variety of food source 

including benthic algae and aquatic insect larvae

-used as a model organism in the field of ecology, evolution, and behavioral studies

B.Interesting facts on guppies

-Guppies are named after the man who discovered them

-You can see baby guppies’ eyes before they’re even born!

-Guppies are known as the millionfish

-A female guppy can give birth to well over 100 fry at a time

-Guppies mature very quickly

-Guppies will eat their own babies!

-Female guppies store sperm

- Guppies can live for up to five years

-Guppies have been used to fight malaria

C.Importance/role of guppies in the ecosystem

-they help eat algae which maintain the number of producers in the ecosystem and also insect larva to help control the number of mosquito as they would harm mankind

D.Food chain of guppies

benthic algae--->guppies--->puffer fish--->shark 

F.Threats to guppies

- Guppies' small bodies and the bright coloration of males make them easy prey so their predators can spot them easily

G.Conservation of guppies
 -although not at risk of extinction themselves, make for an excellent model system to study the effects of introductions on local adaptation and population growth



      Guppies