XVI
Contents
17
17.1
17.2
17.3
17.4
17.4.1
17.4.2
The Gulf of Guayaquil and the Guayas River
Estuary, Ecuador . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
R.R. Twilley, W. Cardenas, V.H. Rivera-Monroy,
J. Espinoza, R. Suescum, M. M. Armijos, and L. Solorzano
Introduction
Environmental Setting
Biogeochemistry . . .
Estuarine Habitats and Communities
Mangroves
Plankton . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
17.4.3
Benthos . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
17.5
Productivity and Trophic Structure
17.6
Coupling of Coastal and Estuarine Ecosystems
17.7
Human Impacts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
17.8
Preliminary Models and Ecosystem Management
References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
18
18.1
18.2
18.3
18.3.1
18.3.2
18.3.3
18.3.4
18.3.5
18.4
18.4.1
18.4.2
18.5
18.5.1
The Estuary Ecosystem of Buenaventura Bay,
Colombia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
J.R. Cantera and J.F. Blanco
Introduction
Environmental Settings
Coastal Habitats and Communities
Sandy Beaches . . . . .
Cliffs and Rocky Shores
Mangrove Swamps . . .
Mud Flats . . . . . . . .
Pelagic Estuarine Environment
Trophic Relations . .
Primary Production
Food Webs ...
Human Impact
Pollution . . . .
18.5.2
Exploitation ..
18.6
Management Needs
References . . . . . . . . . .
245
245
246
249
251
251
253
253
254
257
258
259
260
265
265
265
268
268
269
270
272
273
273
273
274
276
277
277
278
279