. The ecology of delta marshes of coastal Louisiana : a community profile . Figure 56. detritus and salt marsh. Density of consumers at the vegetation, edge of the The importance of this energy flow pathway in marshes can be seen qualitatively by comparing the list of nektonic species in Figure 54 that use the benthic pathway predominantly with those that use the planktonic pathway. Of the abundant species only the gulf menhaden, the bay anchovy, and the juvenile Atlantic croaker are filter feeders. Crabs, shrimp, drum, gar, mullet and nearly all the small resident marsh fish are benthic feede
. The ecology of delta marshes of coastal Louisiana : a community profile . Figure 56. detritus and salt marsh. Density of consumers at the vegetation, edge of the The importance of this energy flow pathway in marshes can be seen qualitatively by comparing the list of nektonic species in Figure 54 that use the benthic pathway predominantly with those that use the planktonic pathway. Of the abundant species only the gulf menhaden, the bay anchovy, and the juvenile Atlantic croaker are filter feeders. Crabs, shrimp, drum, gar, mullet and nearly all the small resident marsh fish are benthic feeders. This benthic food pyramid is the dominant one in salt marshes. Meiofauna, particularly nematodes, graze the bacteria on decomposing grass, are ingested in turn by deposit feeders which are a major source of food to nektonic fish, shellfish and birds. The marsh-dependent fish, especially the \/ery small ones, graze and shelter up in the marsh when it is flooded and lie in the small marsh ponds and along the edges of fine feeder creeks at other times. As they grow they frequent deeper, more open water. Wildlife Wildlife species that use Mississippi delta marshes are abundant. Table 22 sum- marizes taxonomic found in chenier Louisiana the same richness the species of different groups that are likely to be different marsh zones in the plain region of southwestern The deltaic plain has about species. In general, species is highest in the fresh marsh, decreasing into saline areas. No amphibi- ans and only 4 reptile species are found 63
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