This compartment includes all species that attach to the prop roots and pneumatophores of mangroves, such as: Porifera, Bryozoans, Coelenterates, Ascideans, and sessile Arthropods (barnacles).

  Bingham 1992, Bingham and Young 1995, Perry 1988, Vose and Bell 1994, Farnsworth and Ellison 1996.

The biomass numbers have been based on assumptions about the area in mangrove systems that can feasibly be used by aquatic animals. First, Lutz (1997) provides an estimate of the area of the mangrove system that the marine components might possibly use. Second, based on a liberal interpretation of Thayer et al. (1987) and Kolehmainen and Hildner (1974), we assume that the average size of the area used by aqautic mangrove animals is approximately 10 meters wide (The area that is frequently innundated). This leads to our estimation that about 10% of the area cited by Lutz (1997) is used by marine animals in the mangrove system.

  Lutz 1997,  Thayer et al. 1987,  Kolehmainen and Hildner 1974,  Beal 1993,  NOAA 1997.

  Jorgensen et al. 1991.

Once a general P/B ratio was identified, it was scaled according to the seasonal production variability determined in Venier 1997.

  Schwinghammer et al. 1986,  Venier 1997, Jorgensen et al. 1991,  Arreguin-Sanchez et al. 1993.

(see Detritivorous Gastropods in the Florida Bay network for methods used to determine these values.)

  Jorgensen et al. 1991,  McNeil and Lawton 1970,  Humphreys 1979, .

Assimilation efficiency = 70%

   Jorgensen et al. 1991.

Egestion has been calculated using the other parameters : E=C-P-R

These ratios represent the proportions of consumption we partitioned to each of the metabolic parameters. They are based on our original calculations and not on the balanced numbers presented throughout these web pages. They should assist you if you are interested in calculating a production value for the top consumers in the system whose balanced production values are zero.

Food energy content: 4.808 kcal / g.

  Barnes 1994 ,  Venier 1997,  Ambler et al. 1994,  Bingham 1992,   Thayer et al. 1973.