Energy flow in the Ythan estuary, Aberdeenshire, Scotland
In: Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science. Academic Press: London; New York. ISSN 0272-7714; e-ISSN 1096-0015, more
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| Abstract |
A steady-state energy flow model has been constructed for the Ythan estuary. Nutrient and particulate organic carbon flux has been described in relation to freshwater drainage and tidal action. No rates of retention however, could be provided. Organic C to organic N ratios of detritus vary from 1:14 to 1:200 in the water column, whilst this ratio is 1:8 in the sediments of the mudflats. Primary production by benthic macrophytes, benthic algae and phytoplankton amounts to 631 g C m−2 year−1 whilst the production for zooplankton is 0·8 g C m−2 year−1, for meiofauna 19·5 g C m−2 year−1 and for macrofauna 48·8 g C m−2 year−1. The efficiency of energy transfer between the invertebrate macrofauna and vertebrate predators approximates to 54·2% which is higher than that recorded hitherto in various aquatic ecosystems. |
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