Abstract
A review of the tropical soft-bottom literature reveals that several general concepts in benthic ecology, formulated mainly from temperate work, are either in need of modification or are not readily applicable to tropical benthic ecosystems. Several concepts emerge from the present tropical literature suggesting that in comparison with temperate communities: (1) species diversity and faunal densities are not necessarily greater in the tropics, (2) environmental stress (excluding anthropogenic input) is generally more severe, (3) infaunal communities are composed of proportionately more small opportunistic species (4) predation by demersal fishes and crustaceans is more intense, (5) microbes may be a carbon sink in some shallow-water habitats, notably mangroves, (6) production is generally high, but breeding and reproduction are frequently nor continuous and,(7) the distribution and abundances of tropical benthos, like most other communities, reflect temporal and spatial mosaics of major regulatory factors (competition, predation, food supply, environmental disturbances).
Several tropical marine ecosystems such as mangroves and coral reefs are unique, and other environments such as continental shelves possess several common features which distinguish them to some degree from their temperate counterparts. To confirm, reject or modify these emerging concepts, several aspects of tropical benthic ecosystems require further study, including effects of wet season activity, physiological tolerances, nutrient recycling, secondary production, benthic-pelagic coupling and pollution. Such information and emerging conceptualizations are necessary to permit proper and informed conservation and management of these unique ecosystems.
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