The amount of solar energy that -through primary production- is introduced into the ecosystem of the southern North Sea shows a geographic and dynamic distribution that is controlled by the geographic and seasonal distribution of nutrients and rate of penetration of solar energy into the water layers (GIESKES & KRAAY, 1975, 1977). The quantitative distribution of pelagic consumers (herbivores as well as carnivores) is, as shown by FRANSZ (1976, 1977) and FRANSZ, OTTEMA & SEIP (1978) not substantially different from this distribution. For the benthic fauna, on the other hand, the supply of food will largely be determined by conditions that allow deposition of organic matter. Regarding the considerations, advanced in the present report, it will be clear that for the benthic system -as the result of different current velocities, the direction of residual currents, and different effectiveness of wave action- a redistribution of potential energy should be taken into account. |
