214
Reef Zoobenthos
excluded). The production of the meiobenthos should be then 1.5-2 times
more than that of the macrobenthos.
The main components of meiobenthos of coral sands are crustaceans,
worms (Table 5.8), and also the micromolluscs (Kay 1971). In contrast to
most macrobenthic animals, the meiobenthos consists of nonpoisonous
organisms which have a high nutritive value, and so are an important source
of feeding for many reef fish (Bakus 1969; Chardy et al. 1988).
The communities of the rocky littoral zones are less stressed by grazing.
Their biomass will often reach hundreds of grams m- 2 . They are dominated
by crabs and molluscs. On sandy littoral biotopes the biomass of benthos in
usually less: 10 to 100gm- 2 (Table 5.7). In the rocky biotopes of the reef
flat and the outer reef slopes a large portion of the benthos hides in the
cryptofaunal refuges, and so even a tentative quantification of it is actually
very difficult. A possible approach to solving this problem might be the
calculation of the total biomass based on estimations of its average values in
particular microhabitats with parallel evaluations of their relative areas
(Brander et al. 1971; Hutchings 1974). The biomass values thus evaluated in
these biotopes varied within 100 to 400 g m -2. Taking into account the
methodological problems mentioned, even these high values might be
underestimates. Among the benthic fauna the dominating groups here were
most often urchins, polychaetes and decapod crustaceans. The latter two are
an important source of food for nocturnal benthophagous fish (Bakus 1969).
Reef Zoobenthos
excluded). The production of the meiobenthos should be then 1.5-2 times
more than that of the macrobenthos.
The main components of meiobenthos of coral sands are crustaceans,
worms (Table 5.8), and also the micromolluscs (Kay 1971). In contrast to
most macrobenthic animals, the meiobenthos consists of nonpoisonous
organisms which have a high nutritive value, and so are an important source
of feeding for many reef fish (Bakus 1969; Chardy et al. 1988).
The communities of the rocky littoral zones are less stressed by grazing.
Their biomass will often reach hundreds of grams m- 2 . They are dominated
by crabs and molluscs. On sandy littoral biotopes the biomass of benthos in
usually less: 10 to 100gm- 2 (Table 5.7). In the rocky biotopes of the reef
flat and the outer reef slopes a large portion of the benthos hides in the
cryptofaunal refuges, and so even a tentative quantification of it is actually
very difficult. A possible approach to solving this problem might be the
calculation of the total biomass based on estimations of its average values in
particular microhabitats with parallel evaluations of their relative areas
(Brander et al. 1971; Hutchings 1974). The biomass values thus evaluated in
these biotopes varied within 100 to 400 g m -2. Taking into account the
methodological problems mentioned, even these high values might be
underestimates. Among the benthic fauna the dominating groups here were
most often urchins, polychaetes and decapod crustaceans. The latter two are
an important source of food for nocturnal benthophagous fish (Bakus 1969).