Ecology Summary - Melita nitida

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Ecology of Melita nitida

Main Ref.	Vittor, B.A., 2002
Remarks	Prefers very shallow water along the shoreline where leaves and other mangrove debris accumulate (Ref. 108780). Found in an estuary (Ref. 108782). On salt marsh, hard substrate, and seagrass (Ref. 110266). Occurs under decaying mangroves during daytime. Grazes on the bacteria-laden organic scum off the undersides of mangrove leaves. Other gut contents include fine inorganic matter, vascular plant detritus, along with bacteria and protozoa. Nocturnal grazing also occurs, consuming microalgae on the exposed upper surfaces of decaying leaves. Observed to tear apart large pieces of decaying leaves (Ref. 108780).

Main Ref.

Vittor, B.A., 2002

Remarks

Prefers very shallow water along the shoreline where leaves and other mangrove debris accumulate (Ref. 108780). Found in an estuary (Ref. 108782). On salt marsh, hard substrate, and seagrass (Ref. 110266). Occurs under decaying mangroves during daytime. Grazes on the bacteria-laden organic scum off the undersides of mangrove leaves. Other gut contents include fine inorganic matter, vascular plant detritus, along with bacteria and protozoa. Nocturnal grazing also occurs, consuming microalgae on the exposed upper surfaces of decaying leaves. Observed to tear apart large pieces of decaying leaves (Ref. 108780).

Aquatic zones / Water bodies

	Marine - Neritic	Marine - Oceanic	Brackishwater	Freshwater
Marine zones / Brackish and freshwater bodies	supra-littoral zone littoral zone sublittoral zone	epipelagic mesopelagic epipelagic abyssopelagic hadopelagic	estuaries/lagoons/brackish seas mangroves marshes/swamps	rivers/streams lakes/ponds caves exclusively in caves

Highighted items on the list are where Melita nitida may be found.

Habitat

Substrate	Benthic: mobile; Soft Bottom Hard Bottom;
Substrate Ref.	Odum, W.E. and E.J. Heald, 1972
Special habitats	Beds: algae/seaweed; sea grass;
Special habitats Ref.	Zimmerman, R., R. Gibson and J. Harrington, 1979

Associations

Ref.	Vittor, B.A., 2002
Associations
Associated with
Association remarks
Parasitism

feeding

Feeding type	mainly plants/detritus (troph. 2-2.19)
Feeding type Ref.	Odum, W.E. and E.J. Heald, 1972
Feeding habit	browsing on substrate
Feeding habit Ref.	Odum, W.E. and E.J. Heald, 1972

Trophic Level(s)

Estimation method	original sample		unfished population		Remark
Estimation method	Troph	s.e.	Troph	s.e.	Remark
From diet composition
From individual food items	2.00	0.00			Trophic level estimated from a number of food items using a randomized resampling routine.
Ref.

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