Predators- What is trying to eat the potato cod?
I could not find specific predators for the potato cod apart from humans, humans see the potato cod as an easy target because it stays in a general area, the potato cod is an protected species in Australia due to this. But seals, whales and orca are common predators for Antarctic cod, so they may have common predators.
Defence Mechanisms
Seeing as the potato cod has no real predators, there is no need for them to have defence mechanisms. Although they do have a very good camouflage to catch prey.
Symbiotic relationships
The potato cod works with the cleaner wrasse, the cleaner wrasse cleans the parasites, algae and bits of left over meals from the potato cod. This supplies the cleaner wrasse with a good meal and the potato cod with a good clean. The potato cod is usually a very friendly fish with humans, most likely because they feed them. Below is a great example of how these two animals help each other.
The potato cod's role in the ecosystem
The potato cod play an important role in the eco system because they are predators, and without no predators the would be an overload of smaller carnivorous and herbivorous fish this would then lead to extreme problems within the ecosystem.
What would happen to the Reef if your Family became extinct?
The fish the potato cod ate would thrive(unless they have several other predators) this would cause and overpopulation of fish in the reef, out growing the size of the reef. The huge expenditure of fish may also cause a loss of food for other species that eat the same food, causing that species to die off, which may also cause serious harm to the reef. All in all it would be an devastating event.
How will Global Warming affect your Family?
Global warming would affect the potato cod because when water temperatures warm up this causes coral bleaching and algae overgrowth, these things can affect the potato cod directly because both coral bleaching and algae overgrowth affect the coral in which the cod lives, this means the potato cod will have no where to live. It could also affect the potato cod because it would have less prey, also due to coral bleaching, the prey would have no where to live and eventually die leaving nothing to eat for the potato cod.