Abstract

CASTILLO-RIVERA, Manuel  and  ZARATE HERNANDEZ, Rocío. Patrones espacio-temporales de la abundancia de peces en la laguna de Pueblo Viejo, Veracruz. Hidrobiológica [online]. 2001, vol.11, n.1, pp.75-84. ISSN 0188-8897.

The spatial and temporal behavior of overall fish number and seven of the most abundant fish species in the tropical coastal lagoon of Pueblo Viejo, Mexico, were analyzed. Samples were taken monthly through one year at six sites. Correlation analyses showed that rainfall was the environmental condition with a greater association with fish number. In the year the maximal and minimal monthly pulses of overall fish. A. mitchilli, D. auratus and C. melanopus, were linked to preceding rainfall peaks and drops, showing a delayed effect of one month. Therefore, the abundance of these species was greater during the rainy season and their recruitment patterns had low incidence in the monthly behavior of the number of individuals. The abundance peaks of L. rhomboides and B. gunteri, coincided with their recruitment patterns and with one of the maximum production pulses of the system. The number of M. martinica was influenced both by rainfall and individuals recruitment. In this way, the local rainfall and the production patterns, act in synergetic form, enhancing a greater food availability of trophic resources, which favor the entrance of fish in the system. In relation to spatial variability, in general fish abundance was greater in the habitat with submerged vegetation, being particularly evident for L. rhomboides. These environments would represent feeding, nursery and/or protection areas for fish, which allow their aggregation in this habitat type. Only C. melanopus and B. gunteri were more abundant in zones with no vegetation, existing evidence that this behavior is related with patterns of resources partitioning with other species of their corresponding families.

Keywords : Abundance; Fish; Pueblo Viejo; Rainfall; Resource partitioning; Submerged vegetation.

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