| Pioneer sessile suspension feeders |
Encrusting bryozoans, ascidians, some polychaetes |
| Climax sessile suspension feeders |
Demosponges, glass sponges, brachiopods |
| Sedentary suspension feeders |
Basket stars, valviferan isopods, some polychaetes |
| Mobile suspension feeders |
Some brittle stars, crinoids, krill |
| Epifaunal deposit feeders |
Sea cucumbers, some polychaetes |
| Infaunal soft bodied deposit feeders |
Some polychaetes, echiurans, sipunculans |
| Infaunal shelled deposit feeders |
Bivalves, irregular sea urchins |
| Grazers |
Regular sea urchins, limpets |
| Soft bodied, sessile scavenger/predators |
Sea pens, soft corals, anemones, hydroids |
| Hard bodied, sessile scavenger/predators |
Cup corals, whip corals, hydrocorals |
| Soft bodied, mobile scavenger/predators |
Some polychaetes, nemerteans, octopus |
| Hard bodied, mobile scavenger/predators |
Sea stars, fish, gastropods, some brittlestars |
| Jointed legged, mobile scavenger/predators |
Sea spiders, shrimps, amphipods |
