Trophic interactions in Caribbean coral reefs

Abstract

Five thermodynamically balance models of the trophic interactions and organic matter transfer between compartments of a Caribbean coral reef system are presented. Inputs to the models were obtained from published data and from parameter estimates based on multivariate statistics. The models, analyzed using the ECOPATH II program, indicate that coral reef systems are in a "steady-state" or "flowthrough equilibrium" when the appropriate spatial and temporal scale is selected.