The Importance of Fish in Achieving Environmental Balance: A Comprehensive Look at Their Role in Ocean Ecosystems and Beyond

The Importance of Fish in Environmental Balance

It may be difficult to know how many fish are actually in the oceans, but their great importance in achieving environmental balance can never be ignored.

Role of Fish in Ocean Ecosystems

These fish come in all shapes and sizes, from the small sardines, guppies and blenny you might see on coral reefs to the huge tuna and whale fish you might find in the open ocean.

Fish play important roles as predators and prey in ocean ecosystems. Thousands of species throughout oceans and terrestrial ecosystems depend on fish for food, including humans.

Importance to Other Organisms

In coral reef ecosystems, larger fish and other marine animals eat smaller fish. This means that small fish form the base of the food web, providing energy for larger fish and other creatures. Outside of water, many birds, mammals and reptiles eat fish and depend on it as a primary source of protein.

Even wild plants can benefit from the presence of fish. On the West Coast of the United States, salmon returning to small streams after spending several years at sea act as a nutrient conveyor belt.

Salmon feed not only on the animals that hunt them, such as bears, but also on the plants that line the waterways.

Human Dependence on Fish

Humans also depend on fish as a food source. Fish and other seafood products are an important source of protein for about 3 billion people.

Creation and Maintenance of Habitats

When the fish themselves forage for food, they can create and maintain important habitats for other organisms. In coral reef ecosystems, plant-eating fish control algae growth by constantly grazing on it.

Without the help of plant-eating fish, the algae would grow quickly and suffocate the coral, effectively killing it.

Conclusion

Although many fish species are restricted to the ocean, their presence can be felt in many habitats. It can directly and indirectly affect the lives of organisms that depend on it for food and shelter.

Without fish, the Earth would gradually lose its beautiful white sand beaches, coral reef ecosystems would become filled with algae, many people would not have food to eat, and we would lose some of the most amazing creatures on the planet.

Report by Corey Evans, assistant professor of biological sciences, Rice University.

Source: ScienceAlert

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