The Importance of Non-Toxic Urban Wastes in Estuarine Detrital Food Webs

Inshore coastal marine and estuarine waters contain rich and diverse ecosystems which are often highly dependent on nutrient input from terrigenous sources through the detrital food web. In developed countries, coastal and estuarine environments have usually been greatly altered, interrupting natural nutrient flow systems. Case studies of altered ecosystems may be of value to developing countries in planning coastal modifications and waste management strategies. One such case study in southern California USA showed the roles of urban sewage effluent and fish processing wastes under primary and secondary treatment in the detrital food web of the harbor ecosystem.