VI-104 



Spartina , and organic detritus to the energy used in these food 

 chains. This conceot of energy transfer is one of the most impor- 

 tant aspects to understand in order to efficiently manage complex 

 estuarine environments, for it is a fundamental property of the 

 system and provides an extremely valuable approach to evaluation of 

 the effects of pollution and change. It is essential to be able to 

 quantitatively describe the energy transfer for individual species, 

 for trophic levels, and for cormiunities. Constructive manipulations 

 of the sequential nature of energy transfer and utilization can be 

 achieved by the application of system models for studies on move- 

 ments and rates of transfer of selected pollutants within the system, 

 such as insecticides and heavy metals. Such programs are dependent 

 upon the availability of rav; data on input to the ecosvstem, biocon- 

 centration, sedimentation, and output from the ecosystem. One of 

 the early requirements in any management program should include an 

 energy budget analysis. 



Ecosystem Rehabilitation 

 Research is needed on the recovery of an area during the course of 

 cleaning it up. How long does it take, what indications do we have 

 along the way, and how will cleaner water effect the area; for 

 example, will there be more fouling and wood borer problems? Is 

 just the removal of pollution enough to reclaim an area or do we 

 need to develop techniques for rehabilitating despoiled estuarine 

 areas and for increasing fish and wildlife production in low value 

 habitats? How do we reconstruct a marsh after dredging, filling, 



