Estimating macrobenthic secondary production from body weight and biomass: a field test in a non-boreal intertidal habitat

Production (P) and biomass (B) data of different species from 3 stations in the intertidal zone of the Ria Formosa (southern Portugal, 37" N) were analysed. They were compared with equations from the literature to estimate P/B ratios from body weight. A clear distinction must be made between (1) an intraspecific and (2) an interspecific comparison. (1) Results from 3 species supported a body weight exponent of -0.25 for the P/B ratio, as is to be expected from a linear relationship between growth and respiration. ( It is concluded that production in the specific habitat examined cannot be calculated properly from body weight and biomass by 1 simple equation which mixes interspecific and intraspecific effects, rather that both aspects should be separated into 2 different calculation steps.