Seaweed is a commonly known alga but many of us are unaware of just how useful it can be and how many ocean animals eat it.Seaweeds have existed for about three and half billion years! Let’s discover what eats seaweeds and their position in the food chain.The ocean provides humans with immense natural resources. We are dependent on the seas and oceans as they provide us with vital food sources and many ingredients that have great medicinal effects. The richness and diversity of the oceanic community of organisms, plants, and marine life, can be recognized by the fact that there are 300,000 known species of animals in the ocean.These marine species are not only essential in the food chain for humans but are a part of the primary diets for many animals and other fish. Many of us have seen seaweed as a plant on the shores of nearby beaches, however, seaweeds are not classed as plants or animals.They are instead algae that are crucial for life as they produce abundant oxygen for the Earth. Algae contribute to much of the marine food web. These algae come in a wide variety of colors, such as red, brown, and green. Kelp, which is a common type of seaweed, is found largely in the Pacific ocean. Marine life animals eat seaweed as a nutritious food source.Find out more about the animals that use seaweed, such as kelp, as their main source of food! Afterward, why not also read our answers to what eats jellyfish? and what do oysters eat?Do crabs eat seaweed?With an increasing amount of greenhouse gas emissions and warming oceans, the Caribbean coral reefs are taking a major hit. The warmer water has led to more algae and seaweed taking over the reefs.Giant herbivorous crabs could be the solution to this problem. Researchers have found that these giant crabs can eat up to three times their weight in seaweed yearly. If these crabs are released into the waters around the Caribbean, they could help save it from being taken over by seaweed which would otherwise give too much oxygen for fish and other underwater creatures.Do fish eat seaweed?There are various kinds of species of fish that live in the marine ecosystem. Some fish species eat seaweed, but not all of them do as it depends on their positions in the food chain and food web.Herbivorous fish eat more seaweed than omnivorous and carnivorous types of fish. Depending on their habitat, some herbivorous fish species eat aquatic plants, and others eat algae. This relates to the species of the animal. For example, a vegetarian carp will feed mainly on a vegetable matter that has fallen into the water, while a piscivore carp will eat other smaller fish.Some plants can also be eaten by animals such as zooplankton, which eat algae and aquatic plants.What fish eat seaweed?Many herbivorous fish species eat seaweed to get energy. Seaweeds are algae or marine plants that grow beneath aquatic oceans or other bodies of water. They are extremely important for the food web and the balance of the ocean, and seaweed benefits us in many ways.There are numerous species of fish that do this, for a variety of reasons. Seaweed is a great source of protein and fats for some fish and it provides shelter from predators for others. Some fish, however, simply enjoy eating seaweed because to them it tastes good! There are so many types of fish that love seaweed including the goldfish, betta fish, Koi fish, rainbow goby, dwarf sucking catfish, crescent fish, opal eye, Pacific blue tang, farlowella fish, and plecostomus fish.Sea turtles, sea otters, snails, birds, lobsters, shrimp, and several invertebrates also regularly feed on the kelp present along sea rocks, along with meat.What eats seaweed in the Great Barrier Reef?The Great Barrier Reef is known to be the largest coral reef system in the whole world.This is the largest coral reef in the world. It stretches for over 1500 mi (2414 km) along Australia’s coast and is home to over 3000 different animal species.The Great Barrier Reef is made up of thousands of individual reefs that were formed by marine life over time, which together form one large ecosystem. The different types of marine life living in these reefs create a diverse ecosystem, which many believe has high levels of biodiversity and natural beauty.When we talk about seaweed’s presence in coral reefs, it blocks the reefs from getting sunlight and growing. Therefore, kelp needs to be removed to protect the precious reefs. Herbivores like the sea turtle, chitons, types of worms, crabs, snails, shrimp, lobster, sperm whales, sea otters, invertebrates, fishes, dolphins, sea lions, dugongs, and birds feed upon seaweeds and control their population.One such group is herbivores like the parrotfish, which eat seaweeds that have begun to smother corals. The most common seaweed is probably sargassum, a brown alga that often mats on Caribbean reefs. Sea urchins are herbivores and eat seaweeds such as kelp. However, these kelp forests are being destroyed by a large number of sea urchins in recent years.There are many different types of herbivores in the sea and they can also help keep algae off a shore wall or underwater garden by eating it off.These seaweeds are known to have plenty of vitamins, minerals, lipids, and fiber making them a popular choice of food in Asian countries like Japan, China, and Korea. People include seaweed into their diets by eating it in sushi rolls, kimbap (which is seaweed rice that is similar to sushi and has marinated vegetables tuna, and tasty meat), seaweed soups, salads, and many delicious dishes.Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly facts for everyone to enjoy! If you liked our suggestions for what eats seaweed then why not take a look at what eats owls, or Moon jellyfish facts.
Seaweed is a commonly known alga but many of us are unaware of just how useful it can be and how many ocean animals eat it.
