A review of important concepts in the trophic organization of pelagic ecosystems

The physical environment has an important influence on the size composition of primary producers in plankton communities. This effect is transmitted through the trophic structure by size selective feeding processes at each level. A pictorial representation of trophic organization in pelagic ecosystems is presented which illustrates the complex involvement of individual species in the food web and the dynamic nature of ecosystem development along alternate pathways.This research was supported in full by the National Science Foundation, Grant No. NSF OCE76-02035.