Abstract
The results of modelling of a coral reef ecosystem at French Frigate Shoals and independent field measures of benthic primary productivity indicate relatively good agreement between food required by consumer trophic levels and organic carbon produced by primary producers. Based upon the high internal predation necessary for the model to match primary production estimates, we reason that the ecosystem is primarily regulated from the top down by forces of predation and that primary production appears to be controlled by nutrients, rate limits, and the distribution of space and habitat. In spite of relatively high primary productivity, potential yield at the top of the food chain is low because of high internal predation and high trophic complexity (6 trophic levels). Fishery yield might be maximized by harvesting low on the food chain particularly if top carnivores can be cropped to release predator pressure on selected prey. Agreement between field measures of metabolism and model (ECOPATH) results provides reasonable confidence that the model can be used as one tool for resource management.
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Grigg, R.W., Polovina, J.J. & Atkinson, M.J. Model of a coral reef ecosystem. Coral Reefs 3, 23–27 (1984). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00306137
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00306137