Ecology
Ecology is the study of how organisms live and interact with each other and their environment in an ecosystem. Ecosystems are areas that contain interacting populations of abiotic and biotic components, and there are many different types ecosystems around the world. This is because ecosystems fall into various biomes (Tropical rain forests, deserts, savannas, temperate forests, tundras and taigas) that have different climates due to their location on the earth. For example, the tropical rainforest - whose latitude is zero degrees - receives direct sunlight so it is warm, and the water rises and rains, then creates moisture in the air. Then at thirty degrees, the moist air has moved here and become dry, and because of the sunlight, heats up, and deserts are formed. At sixty degrees, the hot air from the desert rises and creates moisture. But, because there is no direct sunlight, it is cold, and taigas are formed.
In an ecosystem, there is a variety of community interactions that occur. There are predators and prey, for example, the former being an organism that captures and feeds on another organism, and the latter being the organism that is captured and fed on. Symbiosis is an interaction when two species live closely together, and it includes mutualism, commenalism, and parasitism. Mutualism is when both species benefit from their relationship. For example, flowers depend on insects for pollination, and insects depend on flowers for food. Commenalism is when one species benefits and one remains the same. For example, barnacles depend on whales' skin to cling to, and whales are not affected by this. Thirdly, parasitism is when one organism lives on or inside another organism and harms it. For example, tape worms live in the intestines of animals and feed on it, which can kill the animal. The last type of interaction is competition, when organisms of the same or different species try to use an ecological resource at the same time, and one organism succeeds and one doesn't.
In an ecosystem, there is a variety of community interactions that occur. There are predators and prey, for example, the former being an organism that captures and feeds on another organism, and the latter being the organism that is captured and fed on. Symbiosis is an interaction when two species live closely together, and it includes mutualism, commenalism, and parasitism. Mutualism is when both species benefit from their relationship. For example, flowers depend on insects for pollination, and insects depend on flowers for food. Commenalism is when one species benefits and one remains the same. For example, barnacles depend on whales' skin to cling to, and whales are not affected by this. Thirdly, parasitism is when one organism lives on or inside another organism and harms it. For example, tape worms live in the intestines of animals and feed on it, which can kill the animal. The last type of interaction is competition, when organisms of the same or different species try to use an ecological resource at the same time, and one organism succeeds and one doesn't.
Ecology of the Mantis Shrimp
Mantis shrimp inhabit not terrestrial biomes, but coral reefs in marine aquatic biomes. They tend to live in burrows in rocks, sand, or coral. They live in tropical and sub-tropical shallow waters near the coast with depths of 3 to 40 meters (about 10 to 130 feet). The water they inhabit and prefer is warm, with temperatures of about 68 degrees F (20 degrees C). While deep tropical oceans are full of oxygen and nutrients, coral reefs -- despite being colonies filled with tiny marine animals -- contain very little nutrients. Still, coral reefs are one of the most diverse ecosystems in the world with "fish, mollusks, worms, crustaceans, echinoderms, sponges, tunicates, and other cnidarians"[1] inhabiting it.
Mantis shrimp are secondary consumers. This means they are carnivores that feed on primary consumers, which are herbivores, and are fed on by tertiary consumers, which are carnivores as well. For example, mantis shrimp eat a variety of gastropods (like sea snails), crustaceans (like crabs), fish, and bivalves (like clams). However, mantis shrimp are not known to be fed on by many animals except for yellowfin tuna and some bigger fish in the coral reef. Mantis shrimp spend most of their time inside their burrows and will most often only leave to get food and find a mate. However, when they do leave, they will interact with the other inhabitants of coral reefs and often fight for their territory. They will also wait for prey to come along and quickly attack and kill it. Mantis shrimp are beneficial because when they abandon their burrows, they create new habitats for other animals.
Mantis shrimp are secondary consumers. This means they are carnivores that feed on primary consumers, which are herbivores, and are fed on by tertiary consumers, which are carnivores as well. For example, mantis shrimp eat a variety of gastropods (like sea snails), crustaceans (like crabs), fish, and bivalves (like clams). However, mantis shrimp are not known to be fed on by many animals except for yellowfin tuna and some bigger fish in the coral reef. Mantis shrimp spend most of their time inside their burrows and will most often only leave to get food and find a mate. However, when they do leave, they will interact with the other inhabitants of coral reefs and often fight for their territory. They will also wait for prey to come along and quickly attack and kill it. Mantis shrimp are beneficial because when they abandon their burrows, they create new habitats for other animals.