Geo-Marine Letters

, Volume 15, Issue 3–4, pp 145–152 | Cite as

Factors regulating benthic food chains in tropical river deltas and adjacent shelf areas

  • D. M. Alongi
  • A. I. Robertson
Article
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Abstract

Benthic food chains of the Amazon (Brazil) and Fly (Papua New Guinea) river deltas and adjacent shelves are compared. Abundance patterns of the major trophic groups (bacteria, meiofauna, and macroinfauna) are similar between regions, with very low densities, or the absence of benthos, within and near the deltas. For muds in the more quiescent areas, benthic abundance and productivity are highest, commonly coinciding with maximum pelagic primary production. Episodes of physical disturbance, erratic food supply, and dilution of river-derived, particulate organic matter foster the development of opportunistic benthic communities of variable diversity and low biomass, dominated by bacteria. These pioneering assemblages are the main food of penaeid shrimp, which dominate the demersal trawl fisheries of both fluvial-dominated regions.

Keywords

River Delta Particulate Organic Matter Meiofauna Trophic Group Shelf Area 
These keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.
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Copyright information

© Springer-Verlag 1995

Authors and Affiliations

  • D. M. Alongi
    • 1
  • A. I. Robertson
    • 1
    • 2
  1. 1.Australian Institute of Marine ScienceTownsville M.C.Australia
  2. 2.School of Science and TechnologyCharles Sturt UniversityWagga WaggaAustralia

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