Sample Food Chains/Webs in a Mangrove Forest
Leaves --> Detritus --> Snapping Shrimp --> Small Fish --> Wading Birds (Egrets)
Oysters/Barnacles/Fiddler Crab --> Spiny Lobster/Shrimp/Tarpon/Mullet --> Wading Birds
As you can see, leaves dropped from the mangrove trees and small benthic animals are the bottom of the food chain, and, passing through, usually, a few layers of nekton, like fish or lobsters, ultimately make it to wading birds, like egrets.
Oysters/Barnacles/Fiddler Crab --> Spiny Lobster/Shrimp/Tarpon/Mullet --> Wading Birds
As you can see, leaves dropped from the mangrove trees and small benthic animals are the bottom of the food chain, and, passing through, usually, a few layers of nekton, like fish or lobsters, ultimately make it to wading birds, like egrets.