Autochthonous Versus Allochthonous Resources in a Tropical Rocky Shore Trophic Web Adjacent to a Marine Riparian Area

Marine riparian areas and coastal vegetation are essential important to the marine ecosystem, although their interactions functions still unknown ignored in ecological studies integrated management planning. In southeastern Brazil, allochthonous resources derived from Atlantic rainforests bordering rocky shores have been observed abundance together with shallow subtidal reef benthos. this study, we used stable isotopes (δ13C δ15N) characterize main components a benthic trophic web on tropical shore, identify proportional contributions of (marine vegetation—MRV) autochthonous (phytoplankton algae) inputs test which basal food contributed most community Forest–rocky coast interface. We found eight major seventeen consumers that classified into different groups according feeding habits biology. Although source present study remained autochthonous, were assimilated by all consumers. MRV is thus an resource for some primary it should be included as potential ecosystems adjacent areas.