Fish Biomass in Tropical Estuaries: Substantial Variation in Food Web Structure, Sources of Nutrition and Ecosystem-Supporting Processes

摘要: Quantification of key pathways sustaining ecosystem function is critical for underpinning informed decisions on development approvals, zoning and offsets, restoration meaningful environmental assessments monitoring. To develop a more quantitative understanding the importance variation in food webs nutrient flows tropical estuaries, we investigated spatio-temporal distribution biomass fish across 28 mangrove-lined estuaries Australia. We evaluated extent to which nekton responded spatial temporal factors trophic identity. Biomass was dominated by two groups, planktivores macrobenthos feeders. Contributions other such as detritivores microbenthos feeders, were variable. Total all major groups concentrated downstream reaches estuaries. The consistent concentration downstream, differences contributions different indicates substantial web structure, from sources nutrition probably unequal flow productivity into higher levels parts estuary. In turn, this suggests qualitative ecosystem-supporting processes estuary reaches.