Editing Ecosystem engineer (section)

===Marine environments===
[[File:Eilat Scuba Parrotfish.JPG|thumb|Parrotfish]]
In marine environments, [[filter feeders]] and [[plankton]] are ecosystem engineers because they alter turbidity and light penetration, controlling the depth at which [[photosynthesis]] can occur.<ref>{{cite journal | last1 = Berke | first1 = Sarah K | year = 2012 | title = Functional Groups of Ecosystem Engineers: A Proposed Classification with Comments on Current Issues | doi = 10.1093/icb/icq077 | pmid = 21558195 | journal = Integrative and Comparative Biology | volume = 50 | issue = 2| pages = 147–157 | doi-access = free }}</ref> This in turn limits the primary productivity of [[benthic zone|benthic]] and [[pelagic zone|pelagic]] habitats<ref>{{cite journal | last1 = Abrahams | first1 = MV | last2 = Kattenfeld | first2 = MG | year = 1997 | title = The role of turbidity as a constraint on predator–prey interactions in aquatic environments | journal = Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology | volume = 40 | issue = 3| pages = 169–74 | doi=10.1007/s002650050330| bibcode = 1997BEcoS..40..169A | s2cid = 24748783 }}</ref> and influences consumption patterns between [[trophic level|trophic]] groups.<ref>{{cite journal | last1 = Hartman | first1 = EJ | last2 = Abrahams | first2 = MV | year = 2000 | title = Sensory compensation and the detection of predators: the interaction between chemical and visual information | journal = Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences | volume = 267 | issue = 1443| pages = 571–75 | doi=10.1098/rspb.2000.1039| pmid = 10787160 | pmc = 1690576 }}</ref>

Another example of ecosystem engineers in marine environments would be [[scleractinian corals]] as they create the framework for the habitat most coral-reef organisms depend on.<ref name=Wild>{{cite journal | last1 = Wild | first1 = Christian | display-authors = etal  | year = 2011 | title = Climate change impedes scleractinian corals as primary reef ecosystem engineers | doi = 10.1071/mf10254 | journal = Marine and Freshwater Research | volume = 62 | issue = 2| pages = 205–215 | doi-access = free | bibcode = 2011MFRes..62..205W }}</ref> Some ecosystem engineers such as coral have help maintaining their environment. [[Parrotfish]] often help maintain coral reefs as they feed on macroalgae that competes with the coral.<ref name= Bozec>{{cite journal | last1 = Bozec | first1 = Yves-Marie | display-authors = etal  | year = 2013 | title = Reciprocal facilitation and non-linearity maintain habitat engineering on coral reefs | journal = Oikos | volume = 122 | issue = 3| pages = 428–440 | doi=10.1111/j.1600-0706.2012.20576.x| bibcode = 2013Oikos.122..428B | citeseerx = 10.1.1.457.9673 }}</ref> As this relationship is mutually beneficial, a positive feedback cycle is formed between the two organisms, making them both responsible for creating and maintaining coral reef ecosystems.<ref name= Bozec />

[[Whale|Whales]] are also being increasingly recognised for their role as ecosystem engineers despite the loss of up to 90% of their numbers during the [[History of whaling|commercial whaling era]].<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Roman |first1=Joe |last2=Estes |first2=James A |last3=Morissette |first3=Lyne |last4=Smith |first4=Craig |last5=Costa |first5=Daniel |last6=McCarthy |first6=James |last7=Nation |first7=Jb |last8=Nicol |first8=Stephen |last9=Pershing |first9=Andrew |last10=Smetacek |first10=Victor |date=September 2014 |title=Whales as marine ecosystem engineers |url=http://doi.wiley.com/10.1890/130220 |journal=Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment |language=en |volume=12 |issue=7 |pages=377–385 |doi=10.1890/130220 |bibcode=2014FrEE...12..377R |issn=1540-9295}}</ref> Whales defecate at the surface and release nutrients that boost the growth of phytoplankton. As whales migrate across the oceans, and move up and down the water column, they help to spread these nutrients in a process that is known as the "[[Whale feces|Whale Pump]]".