Abstract

ROCHA-RAMIREZ, Arturo; CHAVEZ-LOPEZ, Rafael; ANTILLON-ZARAGOZA, Ingrid  and  FUENTES-MENDOZA, Francisco Ali. Nictemeral variation of macrocrustacean assemblages in a sandy beach from north-central Veracruz, Mexico. Rev. Mex. Biodiv. [online]. 2016, vol.87, n.1, pp.92-100. ISSN 2007-8706.  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rmb.2016.01.025.

In this study, the structure of spatio-temporal variations of macrocrustacean assemblage were analyzed from the sandy beaches of Villa Rica, Veracruz. The nictemeral cycles related to lunar phases were taken into account; the non-metric multidimensional analysis showed an environmental stability trend. Within the macrocrustacean assemblages 9 species were recognized, of these, Emerita benedicti, Excirolana braziliensis, Excirolana sp. and Pseudohaustorius sp., were the dominant ones. The highest values of total density, species richness, and diversity were recorded during high tides. The cirolanid isopods and Emerita benedicti occurred in the lower unsaturated zone of the beach, and Pseudohaustorius sp. was found in the middle area. Macrocrustacean assemblage is simple, with low species richness (3-5) and low diversity values with significant differences throughout the study time; however, the assemblage structure complexity tended to be constant throughout time.

Keywords : Macrocrustaceans; Diversity; Dissipative beach; Intertidal zone.

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