Community structure and trophic interactions in a coastal management and exploitation area for benthic resources in central Chile

The results show that the main flows of consumption in the benthic community of the MEABR of San Vicente Bay occur in lower trophic levels (TL ≤ 2), while flows in higher trophic levels (TL ≤ 3) are related mainly to C. concholepas. The MTI and IS analysis show that C. concholepas and crabs are the groups whose changes in biomass caused the greatest change in total system biomass in MEABR of San Vicente Bay and can be characterized as playing important ecological roles in that places. Exploitation resulted in direct and indirect trophic impacts that have the potential of affecting the sustainability of this and other MEABRs. Future research should also aim at advancing knowledge on basic ecological parameters of exploited benthic communities beyond target species.