TROPHIC BALANCE OF A REEF ECOSYSTEM (TIAHURA-MOOREA-FRENCH POLYNESIA)

Two models of the trophic balance of the fringing and barrier reef of the Tiahura sector, Moorea Island French Polynesia are presented. The data bare of both models consists of published data. The true models were analysed by the ECOPATH II model of Christensen and Pauly [1]. Models outputs indicate that the efficiency recycling of materials is high and the storage rate is low on the two systems. Two processes sum up this behaviour for the two systems: a high use of detritus and high internal predation. Trophic balances of the fringing and barrier reefs are similar but functionally are different. The fringing reef seems to be an autotrophic system with a high detritus production and exportation rates. On the contrary, the barrier reef seems to be a heterotrophic system. Two processes sump up this behaviour for the two systems: a high use of the detritus and a high internal predation in the barrier reef.