Dear Marmam and Sirenian list subscribers,
Apologies for cross-posting. We are pleased to report that our following paper
has just been published online:
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Castelblanco-Martínez, D., Barba, E., Schmitter-Soto, J., Hernández-Arana, H.,
Morales-Vela, B., 2011. The Trophic Role of the Endangered Caribbean Manatee
Trichechus manatus; in an Estuary with low Abundance of Seagrass. ESTUARIES AND
COASTS, 1-18. DOI 10.1007/s12237-011-9420-8.
Abstract
Chetumal Bay is a refuge for the manatee, Trichechus manatus, a large and
strictly herbivorous aquatic mammal. The ecosystem is notoriously poor in
subaquatic vegetation, the main components of manatees’ diet. Due to the
constant presence of manatees in the bay and their ability to consume large
volumes of plant material, it is assumed that the species has a relevant
trophic
impact on the system. A mass–balance trophic model was designed to describe the
flows of energy and matter in the bay, with the goal of assessing the role of
manatees in the system. The system was aggregated in eight effective trophic
levels. The biomass was intensely concentrated in the detritus, suggesting that
the matter on the bottom sediment is the main regulator of the energy flow in
the system. Primary producers comprised of detritus, mangrove, benthic
autotrophs, and phytoplankton. The apex predators were dolphins and large
piscivorous fishes. Manatees occupied the trophic level 2.0. and were directly
or indirectly impacted by autotrophs, mangrove, and detritus; but the
competition between manatees and other groups was insignificant. In comparison
to other ecosystems where manatees occur, Chetumal Bay (BCh) has the lowest
relative biomass of seagrasses. Several ecological and behavioral mechanisms to
compensate the lack of macrophytes biomass (or a combination of several) are
suggested. Ecopath with Ecosim models are useful to describe the flow of energy
and matter in the ecosystems. However, there are still critical gaps in the
knowledge of BCh and its manatee population. It is difficult to assess the
uncertainty associated with the estimates obtained; therefore, results should
be
interpreted with caution. Improving this preliminary model with robust local
information on the Chetumal Bay ecology and its manatee population is
recommended.
Keywords Manatee . Chetumal Bay. Trophic model . Grazing . Ecology. Ecopath
with
Ecosim
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The article can be accessed following this link,
http://www.springerlink.com/openurl.asp?genre=article&id=doi:10.1007/s12237-011-9420-8
More information upon request from me ([email protected])
Have a nice day!
--
Nataly Castelblanco-Martínez, Ph.D.
El Colegio de la Frontera Sur - ECOSUR
Av. Centenario Km 5.5 C.P. 7790
Chetumal, Quintana Roo. Mexico
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