In a coastal zone with coral reefs, seagrass beds, and mangroves, which organisms are typical inhabitants of fore reef, back reef, lagoon, and seagrass habitats, and what do their assemblages reveal about energy?

• A. Energy is uniform across all habitats.
• B. Fore reef hosts corals and reef fish; back reef includes filter feeders and macroalgae; lagoon supports juvenile fish and invertebrates; seagrass beds host seagrasses and associated herbivores; energy is highest in fore reef and seagrass habitats and moderate in lagoons.
• C. Fore reef is sterile; back reef hosts only crustaceans; lagoons have no fish; seagrass beds have no herbivores.
• D. Only mangroves host all organisms in these zones.

Answer: (B)