Primary Producers- Algae on Coral Reefs
Coral reef ecosystems rely heavily on primary producers. Terrestrial primary producers are well known to us, they are green plants. Primary producers are often the ·first step· in the food chain; they take inorganic carbon from the atmosphere (carbon dioxide) and fix it into organic carbon molecules (carbohydrates), subsequently transporting it into the food web when the algae are consumed by herbivores.

In the marine environment, the most significant primary producers are large, plant-like macroalgae and microscopic phytoplankton. Both serve as food sources for a variety of marine organisms. Marine herbivores feed on different types of large, fleshy macroalgae (red, green, and brown), which are distinguished from each other by their different photosynthetic pigments. Planktivores or filter-feeders feed on free-floating phytoplankton.







Reef fishes are diverse and commonly have bright and attractive color patterns. This vibrancy makes them appealing objects of amusement and observation. Recently they have even become part of pop culture; we are now familiar with some of them as Nemo (Clownfish, Amphiprion species), Dory (blue tang/palette surgeonfish, Paracanthurus hepatus), Gill (Moorish Idol, Zanclidae species), etc.

Most reef fishes are of the large and diverse Order of bony fishes, the Perciformes, and are distributed in many of the suborders. Most notably, they are found in the Labroids, Blennoids, Gobioids, Percoids, and Acanthuroids. The table below lists some of the commonly recognized reef fishes.

Suborder
Labroidei	Damselfishes (Pomacentridae), Wrasses (Labridae), Parrotfishes (Scaridae)
Blennoidei	Blennies
Gobioidei	Gobies, Dartfishes
Percoidei	Butterflyfishes (Chaetodontidae), Angelfishes (Pomacanthidae)
Acanthuroidei	Surgeonfishes (Acanthuridae), Rabbitfishes (Siganidae), Moorish Idol (Zanclidae), Spadefishes (Ephippidae), Scats(Scatophagidae)

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