Preliminary assessment of benthic community metabolism in a south-east Asian mangrove swamp

Abstract

Preliminary data are presented on benthic metabolism, i.e. carbon, oxygen and dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) dynamics in a tropical, south-east Asian mangrove swamp. Primary production by benthic microalgae, measured as 14C assimilation and O2 production, was low compared to other intertidal areas. Benthic production comprised 4 to 20% of production estimates obtained from the literature on the mangrove Rhizophora apiculata). Factors responsible for the relatively low benthic primary production appeared to be shading by R. apiculata and DIN availability.