Climate and Biodiversity - Environmental Science - page 99

Herring gulls Herring gulls

Peregrine falcon Peregrine falcon

Snowy
egret

Snowy
egret

Cordgrass Cordgrass

Short-billed
dowitcher

Short-billed
dowitcher

Marsh
periwinkle

Marsh
periwinkle

Phytoplankton Phytoplankton

Smelt Smelt

Zooplankton and
small crustaceans

Zooplankton and
small crustaceans

Soft-shelled
clam

Soft-shelled
clam

Clamworm Clamworm

Bacteria Bacteria

Producer to
primary
consumer

Primary to
secondary
consumer

Secondary to
higher-level
consumer

All consumer
and producers
to decomposers

Figure 5-28 Natural capital: components and interactions in a salt marsh ecosystem in a tem-
perate area such as the United States. When these organisms die, decomposers break down
their organic matter into minerals used by plants. Colored arrows indicate transfers of matter and
energy between consumers (herbivores); secondary, or higher-level, consumers (carnivores);
and decomposers. Organisms are not drawn to scale. The photo shows a salt marsh in Peru.