Understanding the food-web structure and function of the mangrove ecosystem of Weno Island, Micronesia using fatty acids and stable isotope ratios

Abstract

Carbon cycling and productivity within Weno Island of Micronesia enclosed by the coral reef may be self-maintained and insignificantly affected by the open ocean. In order to understand the function and structure of the ecosystem of Weno Island, fatty acid biomarkers and stable isotope ratios were analyzed from potential primary producers, including mangrove, and consumers. As the results, mangrove fauna obtained their nutrition from the various sources, i.e. the mangrove for L. cf. scabra, the microalgae for Strombu ssp., and omnivorous Pagurus sp. and T. cf. palustris. However, it is obvious that the nutrition of most species living in the mangrove ecosystem is highly dependent on the mangrove, either directly or indirectly. More detail food-web structure and function of the mangrove ecosystem will be established with the analysis of additional fauna and flora.land, fatty acid biomarkers and stable isotope ratios were analyzed from potential primary producers, including mangrove, and consumers. As the results, mangrove fauna obtained their nutrition from the various sources, i.e. the mangrove for L. cf. scabra, the microalgae for Strombu ssp., and omnivorous Pagurus sp. and T. cf. palustris. However, it is obvious that the nutrition of most species living in the mangrove ecosystem is highly dependent on the mangrove, either directly or indirectly. More detail food-web structure and function of the mangrove ecosystem will be established with the analysis of additional fauna and flora.