Diversity, structure, and temporal variation of fish assemblages associated to Playa Mora coral reef, Tenacatita Bay, Mexico

Abstract

This study describes the structure and temporal variation of fish assemblages associated with Playa Mora coral reef, Jalisco, México. The species present were recorded with visual censuses along transects of 50 x 5 m, in three different seasons of the year (temperate-dry, warm-rainy, and warm-dry). A total of 5,689 fishes of 64 species were recorded. The best represented families according to species richness were Labridae (7) and Pomacentride (6). The biological value index determined that Thalassoma lucasanum, Stegastes acapulcoensis, Microspathodon dorsalis, and Prionurus punctatus were the dominant species. The fish assemblages by specific richness and trophic groups displayed temporal changes. The temperate-dry season presented the greatest richness and abundance of fish. The trophic category composition was mainly represented by carnivorous fish, which were dominant in the reef. The carnivorous, carnivorous-coralivores, obligate coralivores, herbivorous, zooplanktivorous, and parasitic species were better represented in the temperate-dry season, while the omnivores increased in the warm season.