Topology, trophic structure and functioning of the marine ecosystem of Coiba National Park, Panama

Abstract

Coiba National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, supports a highly diverse coastal marine ecosystem. This study characterized its structure and functioning by developing an Ecopath mass-balance model for 2021–2022, integrating 42 functional groups. Model evaluation and energy-flow analysis allowed us to assess total consumption, respiration, exports, and detrital pathways, as well as indicators of ecosystem development (ascendancy, development capacity, and system overhead) and trophic structure. The results indicate that the ecosystem is in a developmental phase, with an energetic imbalance typical of early successional stages and moderate efficiency in converting energy into biomass. Lower trophic levels showed strong connectivity, whereas higher levels were sparsely represented, highlighting structural vulnerability to stressors. These findings provide essential insights for conservation planning and underscore the need for management strategies that strengthen functional groups with low connectivity to enhance ecosystem resilience.