Tidal Energy and Sublittoral Macrobenthic Animals in Estuaries

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Abstract
A quantitative hypothesis is presented that current velocity and roughness at the sediment–water interface control the numbers, biomass, and growth of suspension-feeding macrobenthic animals. The controls are the effect of tidal currents on turbulent mass transfer of food to suspension-feeding animals and direct inhibition of growth and settlement by currents in excess of 12–30 cm/s. The rate of turbulent supply of ATP associated with seston is proposed as a practical way of determining growth potentials of suspension-feeding macrobenthos at current velocities less than 30 cm/s. Key words: sublittoral macrobenthos, tidal velocity, potential population growth, Bay of Fundy estuaries

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