

45pp< 



f ' 

 "-S/C ' MARCH 1962 



mm IfOO' i 10*89 , 



»u if« 



Figure 50. Physical/chemical factors in relation to plant distributions in 

 Whitewater Bay (adapted from Tabb et al. 1962). 



1957-1960. More recent information 

 does not exist with which these 

 historical trends and distributions 

 can be compared. 



7.3 HABITAT PARTITIONING 

 FOR FISH AND WILDLIFE 

 PRODUCTION 



7.31 ENERGY FLOW AND CHEMICAL 

 CYCLING 



Figure 51 presents a general- 

 ized scheme of energy flow through 

 the estuarine and saltwater wetlands 

 ecosystem. Compared to the terres- 

 trial and freshwater setting, con- 

 siderable study has been devoted to 

 several aspects of estuarine energy 

 flow. Heald (1969) has traced the 

 production and transport of organic 

 detritus in the North River estuary, 

 while Odum (1969) documented the 



food habits of 53 species of fishes 

 and numerous invertebrates utilizing 

 the same area. Odum et al. (1982) 

 provide a comprehensive though 

 qualitative listing of food prefer- 

 ences of vertebrates in the study 

 area. 



Energy flow pathways are divid- 

 ed into two major divisions, a pre- 

 dominantly terrestrial upper half 

 and an open water lower half. This 

 delineation is not a strict one, 

 considering the intertidal habitats 

 and the species that utilize them, 

 as well as the larger flying and 

 foraging predators capable of using 

 both environments. 



One of the primary features of 

 the energy flow in this area is its 

 dependence on detritus (particularly 

 mangrove detritus). Allochthonous 



150 



