Benthic Communities as Indicators of Ecosystem Condition

Abstract

Bottom-dwelling (benthic) communities are major secondary consumers in coastal and estuarine ecosystems, frequently representing one of the largest living pools of organic carbon. These communities can consume significant portions of primary production, particularly in shallow, unstratified systems. The benthos are also a major trophic link in estuarine food webs, contributing directly to the diets of economically important bottom-feeding fish.

This is a summary of the presentation given at the Symposium on Ecological Indicators. A full paper was not available for publication.