The fish are essential to a Coral reef life cycle and the numerous species that exist are based on the complexity of that place. All these Coral fish have their own role and different modalities of hiding, hunting, reproducing and feeding. When it comes to feeding, specialists say that there are five trophic categories, which have their own role in the reef and their own life cycle.
Most of the Coral fish usually feed on plankton. This Coral fish are either nocturnal, like the cardinal fish, or diurnal, like the damselfishes, and both depend on the large schools of the Coral reef. The planktonic animals have a very important role is sustaining the fish population in the sea.
Another type of Coral fish is the herbivorous, which are really a different group of fish. Their main role is to control the algae development so it will not get too high. The algae, besides providing food for these fish are also the place where most of the Coral fish make their homes. Besides providing the fish with food and shelter they also have an important role in stabilizing the sediment-water interface.
The invertebrate Coral fish have the largest number of species, which make sure that the fish population does not get out of control and disturb the oceanic ecosystem. Other types of fish that ensures this will not happen are the omnivores and the piscivores. The piscivores usually become more active in the evening and at dawn when the light is not very strong thus allowing them to become invisible to their prey.
Also there are Coral fish that feed on mucus and parasites of the other fish keeping them healthy. They are not included in any of the trophic categories scientist described but their role is important in maintaining the balance of this ecosystem
