Culture of estuarine benthic and nectonic first trophic level feeders

Abstract

SYNOPSIS lhe paper deals with some base trophlc Jac:,,,rs in relation to two herbivores, namely ovsters and mullets, which derive their energy directly ly from the fin;! trophic leveI of an estuarine ecosystem. The analysis of the gut contents of both organisms has shown that they feed mostly on microorganisms , especial/y planktonic and bentlzic dia tom s, and a significant percentage of detritus materiaIs, including inorganic partieles, is a/ways present. Their dietary components are very muclz related to seasonal abundance offood production. of lhe estuarv. Current yields of oysters ana mullets are far too low and food source is not a limiting factor for their production on large scale. Tidal flows, particular• Iy in relatior! to salinity, have profound effect on culture grounds. Mortality is lan{elv due to nredation.