A complete model of carbon flows in the planktonic food web of the lagoon of Takapoto Atoll (French Polynesia) was built using data collected between 1990 and 1994 within the framework of a general research programme on the pearl oyster Pinctada margaritifera. Inverse analysis was used to estimate the missing flows. Complementary data were collected in April 1996, to validate the computed flows. The shared field data (e.g. primary production and biomasses) showed large discrepancies between 1990-1994 and 1996, because of either real differences in the food web, or methodological differences. Consequently, a second model was built for the second data set. Network analysis was applied to describe the structures of the two models.

The characteristics of the two models differ, i.e. carbon flows in the first model are dominated by metazoan zooplankton, whereas protozoa are the most active compartment in the second model. The first model has high
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