Fish larvae from the north littoral reef of Quintana Roo, Mexican Caribbean Sea

Authors

  • José N. Álvarez-Cadena Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México. Instituto de Ciencias del Mar y Limnología, Unidad Académica Puerto Morelos. Apartado Postal 1152, C. P. 77501, Cancún, Quintana Roo, México.
  • Uriel Ordóñez-López Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Centro de Investigación y Estudios Avanzados, Unidad Mérida, Km. 6 Antigua carretera a Progreso. A.P. 73 CORDEMEX. C. P. 97310. Email: inac@mar.icmyl.unam.mx
  • Alma Rosa Almaral-Mendivil Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México. Instituto de Ciencias del Mar y Limnología, Unidad Académica Puerto Morelos. Apartado Postal 1152, C. P. 77501, Cancún, Quintana Roo, México.
  • Margarita Ornelas-Roa Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Centro de Investigación y Estudios Avanzados, Unidad Mérida, Km. 6 Antigua carretera a Progreso. A.P. 73 CORDEMEX. C. P. 97310. Email: inac@mar.icmyl.unam.mx
  • Amira Uicab-Sabido Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Centro de Investigación y Estudios Avanzados, Unidad Mérida, Km. 6 Antigua carretera a Progreso. A.P. 73 CORDEMEX. C. P. 97310. Email: inac@mar.icmyl.unam.mx

Keywords:

Fish larvae, Mexican Caribbean Sea.

Abstract

Neuston samples (144) collected monthly from January to December 2004 from the north of the Mexican Caribbean Sea were analyzed. Trawlings were made at twelve sites along the coast, from Puerto Morelos to Cancun with a neuston net (0.60X 0.80 m; mesh 330µ) for 10 min., near surface. Salinity (spu), temperature (°C), and Oxygen (mg/l), were measured in situ, allowing the characterization of two climatic regimes: dry and wet season, and three environments: coastal (with oceanic characteristics), lagoon, and reef areas. A total of 5,577 fish larvae were captured (4,398.5 larvae/100 m3 ) corresponding to 55 families and 115 taxa. Gobies were the most conspicuous taxa, they were found in all three environments and ratify previous reports by other workers. Ctenogobius sp. (26.6%), Gobionellus sp.1 (17.9%), and Harengula jaguana (6.7%), made up more than 51%. Seasonally, highest average abundance was recorded in the dry season (56.9%) peaking in March (9.1±4.5 larvae/100 m3 ). The lagoon environment contained the lowest species richness (44) than the coastal (78) or reef (82) areas, but more larvae were caught (2,865.6 larvas/100 m3 ), a number higher than those collected at the other two environments put together.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Published

2017-01-15

How to Cite

Álvarez-Cadena, J. N., Ordóñez-López, U., Almaral-Mendivil, A. R., Ornelas-Roa, M., & Uicab-Sabido, A. (2017). Fish larvae from the north littoral reef of Quintana Roo, Mexican Caribbean Sea. HIDROBIOLÓGICA, 17(2), 139–150. Retrieved from https://hidrobiologica.izt.uam.mx/index.php/revHidro/article/view/985

Issue

Section

Artículos

Most read articles by the same author(s)