Chirarochana, Jar2022-06-302022-06-301977https://hdl.handle.net/1794/2720951 pagesDetritus plays an important role in the marine ecosystem. It forms a significant fraction of the available food sources (Darnell, 1958, 1961 , 1967; Gant et. al, 1971; Heald 1971; Lenz, 1977; E. P . Odum and Dela Cruz, 1967; W. E. Odum, 1971; W. E. Odum and Heald, 1975; Riley, 1970; Seki, 1972·; Teal, 1962). Detritus is the chief link between primary and secondary productivity in salt marshes and mangroves. This is because only a small portion of the net production of the marsh grass or mangrove is grazed while it is alive. The major energy flow between autotrophic and heterotrophic levels is by way of the detritus food chain (Gant et al, 1971; Heald, 1971; E. P. Odum and Dela Cruz, 1967; W. E. Odum, 1971; W. E . Odum and neald, 1975; Teal, 1962)enCreative Commons BY-NC-ND 4.0-USDetritusMarine BiologyMarine EcosystemThesis / Dissertation