Abstract

MERA-ORTIZ, Ghelen; RUIZ-CAMPOS, Gorgonio; GOMEZ-GONZALEZ, Adán Enrique  and  VELAZQUEZ-VELAZQUEZ, Ernesto. Composition and seasonal abundance of aquatic birds in three landscaspes of the Mar Muerto lagoon, Oaxaca-Chiapas. Huitzil [online]. 2016, vol.17, n.2, pp.251-261. ISSN 1870-7459.

We determine the composition, abundance and space use of the avifauna during two climatic seasons (dry and rainy) in three different landscapes of the Mar Muerto lagoon, located in the states of Oaxaca and Chiapas, Mexico. We recorded a total of 40 aquatic and semi-aquatic bird species. The families with the largest number of species were Ardeidae and Scolopacidae (nine species each) followed by Anatidae and Laridae (with four especies each). We recorded higher species richness during the months of rain (33 species) than in the dry months (29 species). The species richness and abundance showed different patterns among the landscaspes: Los Pájaros island with 28 species, followed by the surrounding areas of the village of Santa Brígida with 22 species, and Boca Tonalá with 14 species. The most frecuented areas by the avifauna in Mar Muerto lagoon were the mangrove forest (20 species and 54. 6% of the total number of records) and the muddy plain (20 and 16.2 %), followed by shelled plains (10 and 4.7 %), ponds (10 and 2.6 %), and finally the sandy beach (9 and 3.4 %). The Mar Muerto lagoon is an important resting and feeding site for resident and migratory bird species.

Keywords : avifauna; species richness; coastal wetlands.

        · abstract in Spanish     · text in Spanish     · Spanish ( pdf )