Botany Bay Ecosystem
By Itai Libman
Location
Biotic and Abiotic Factors
Producers such as:
- Sea grasses (Strepweed)
- Mangroves (Grey Mangrove)
Consumers such as:
- Crabs (Red Fingered, Blue Swimmer)
- Squids (Pygmy, Dumpling)
- Octopi (Blue-lined)
- Prawns
- Fish (Weedfish, Pipefish, Goby, Leather Jacket)
- Sea Hare
Some Abiotic factors include:
- Water Depth
- Sunlight
- Salinity
- Air temperature
- pH
Human Impact
Red Fingered Marsh Crab
Scientific Name - Sesarma erythrodactyla
Habitat - This crab is commonly found in areas such as mangroves salt marshes and river banks where it is on land but has easy access to water.
Diet - The RFMC (Red Fingered Marsh Crab) is mostly herbivorous, and is often found eating algae or decaying leaves, but, it is known to eat some micro-organisms hiding in the mud.
Adaptions - Male RFMCs have a leafy-green shell that allows them to camouflage with their mangrove surroundings. Like most other crabs, RMFCs dig holes in the mud to hide and keep dry. When in these holes, the crabs can block any predators that were planning on following them with their pincers.
Pygmy Squid
Habitat - Pygmy squids are found in sea-grass beds in bays and inlets
Diet - Pygmy squids hunt small crustaceans in their habitat by hiding and ambushing them. They sneak around behind the animal and then paralyze it with a single bite.
Adaptations - Pygmy squids have special glue glands in their skin that let them stick to sea-grass leaves. This, along with their extremely small size, is a very good form of camouflage.
Food Web
Bibliography
. 2016. Abiotic Factors of an Ecosystem: Definition & Examples - Video & Lesson Transcript | Study.com. [ONLINE] Available at: http://study.com/academy/lesson/abiotic-factors-of-an-ecosystem-definition-examples-quiz.html. [Accessed 15 September 2016].
http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/resources/nature/surveys/20110250KamayBotanyBayFauna.pdf
prezi.com. 2016. Human Impacts on Botany Bay by Loizos Loizou on Prezi. [ONLINE] Available at:https://prezi.com/ttowas3pxirn/human-impacts-on-botany-bay/. [Accessed 15 September 2016].
Pamela Melrose. 2016. Red-fingered Marsh Crab - Georges River EEC. [ONLINE] Available at:http://www.georgesrivereec.com.au/index.php/resources/significantfauna/list-of-selected-fauna?id=314. [Accessed 15 September 2016]
Southern Pygmy Squid – Idiosepius notoides Berry, 1921 - Australian Museum. 2016. Southern Pygmy Squid – Idiosepius notoides Berry, 1921 - Australian Museum. [ONLINE] Available at:http://australianmuseum.net.au/southern-pygmy-squid-idiosepius-notoides-berry-1921. [Accessed 15 September 2016].