The list of organisms directly involved in this case have been narrowed to four groups. Provided for you are some general information about the organisms' eating habits, size, and other notes. Create a diagram showing the relationships between the organisms.

Vegetation
  • blue crab
  • shrimp
  • striped bass
  • sea grass
  • North Carolina

 
INVERTEBRATES

Blue crab

  • Callinectes sapidus
  • DIET: general scavenger, bottom carnivore (eat other animals), detritivore (eat decaying organic matter), & omnivore (eat animals or plants); including fish, crustaceans, mollusks, plants.
  • DISTRIBUTION: Nova Scotia down the east coast of North America, off Bermuda, throughout the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea, and down the east coast of South America to northern Argentina.
  • PREDATORS: fish, sea jelly, shrimp, planktivores, turtles, sharks, birds, and even other blue crabs.
  • NOTE: The blue crabs' diet vary depending on their stage of life.
(www.blue-crab.org/lifecycle1.htm)

Shrimp

  • Penaeus aztecus (Brown shrimp), Penaeus setiferus (White shrimp), and Penaeus duorarum (Pink shrimp)
  • DIET: detritus, i.e. broken pieces of dead plants and animals
  • DISTRIBUTION: Atlantic coast of U.S. to Gulf of Mexico
  • PREDATORS: fish, crabs, human
  • NOTE: second most valuable fishery in NC; by-catch from shrimp harvest is a cause for concern.

(www.sms.si.edu/irlspec)
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FISH

Striped bass

  • Morone saxatilis
  • DIET: fish, crabs
  • DISTRIBUTION: St. Lawrence River, Canada to St. Johns River, Florida
  • PREDATORS: large fish, humans
  • NOTE: Major predator of juvenile blue crabs; commercially & recreationally valuable fish in NC.
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VEGETATION

Seagrass

  • Zostera marina (eelgrass), Halodule wrightii (shoalgrass), and Ruppia maritima (widgeongrass)
  • DIET: make its own food with sunlight and nutrients via photosynthesis
  • DISTRIBUTION: estuarine communities worldwide
  • PREDATOR: herbivores
  • NOTE: Provide a refuge area for many juvenile fish and shellfish.
(www.itsligo.ie/biomar/SUB_SEDS/BIOT0304.HTM)

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HUMANS

North Carolina

  • SIZE: 48,711 sq. miles
  • POPULATION:   8,049,313
  • CAPITAL: Raleigh
  • PEOPLE: 72.1% Caucasian; 21.6% Black; 4.7% Hispanic; 1.4% Asian; 1.2% Native American
  • LANGUAGES: English
  • RELIGION: Baptist, Christian, Catholic
  • MAJOR INDUSTRIES : agriculture, commercial fishing, mining

(www.50states.com/ncarolin.htm)
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This web site was created by Lynn Tran at the North Carolina State University, Department of Mathematics, Science, and Technology Education on 7/12/03. Faculty advisor Dr. David Eggleston, NCSU, Department of Marine, Earth, & Atmospheric Sciences. Last updated December 29, 2003 .