Ecological energetics of the rock oyster Saccostrea cucullata (Born)

Abstract

The energy budget partitioning in the rock oyster Saccostrea cucullata (Born^ has been described and based on this the functional importance of these oysters In the estuarine ecosystem has been discussed. It has been found that a large amount of consumed energy (c *= 100%) Is diverted to the maintenance cost (R = 31.26%). However, at this cost the soma (S) energy Incorporation is only 9.74% while the gonadal (Q) energy output is only 6.51% of the 'C In addition to the gonadal output, 40% of 'C energy is passed to the trophic system back in terms of faeces and urinary excreta (F + U) and 2.49% of the energy totally eliminated (E) from the population on account of fishing and predation