Coastal lagoons are important systems for freshwater, estuarine and marine organisms; they are considered important zones of reproduction, nursery and feeding for many fish species. The present study investigates the fish assemblages of the natural reserve of Dzilam and their relationship with the hydrologic variables. A total of 6 474 individuals (81 species) were collected, contributing with more than 50% considering the Importance Value Index (IVI), Sphoeroides testudineus, Fundulus persimilis, Anchoa mitchilli, Eucinostomus gula, Eucinostomus argenteus and Mugil trichodon. Differences in species composition were found between seasons the highest during the cold fronts. Spatially, differences were related with the presence of freshwater seeps, the highest in the ecological characterized eastern part and the lowest with higher difference in specific composition located in the western part of the internal zone, due to a higher abundance and dominance of L. rhomboides. Salinity and temperature were the variables that presented a higher influence in the distribution of some pelagic species such as A. mitchilli and A. hepsetus. Because of the abundant freshwater seeps characteristic of the coastal lagoons of Yucatan Peninsula their community structure and fish assemblage display spatial and temporal differences in specific composition. Rev. Biol. Trop. 57 (1-2): 89-103. Epub 2009 June 30.

Resumen. Se evaluó la abundancia y recambio de las especies ícticas que habitan en la laguna de Celestún en función de los ciclos de luz y oscuridad y del tipo de hábitats. Para ello se realizaron 6 muestreos bimestrales en una red de 4 estaciones; 2 localizadas en la boca y 2 en la zona interna de la laguna. Los sitios de cada zona comprenden un fondo con vegetación acuática y otro sin ésta (VAS, FSV). En cada sitio se registraron parámetros hidrológicos para determinar su relación con la estructura de la comunidad. Los peces se recolectaron con un chinchorro (15 × 1.5 m, 2.5cm luz de malla) en un periodo diurno (

The aim of this study was to determine the trophic structure and nycthemeral variations in the diet of dominant fish species (Ariopsis felis, Bairdiella chrysoura, Micropogonias undulatus, Eucinostomus gula, Eucinostomus argenteus, Lagodon rhomboides and Sphoeroides testudineus) in Celestun Lagoon, a biosphere reserve located in the southern Gulf of Mexico, and influenced by freshwater seeps. A total of 1473 stomachs were analysed and nine trophic groups were recorded. Bray-Curtis analyses with analyses of similarity (ANOSIM) statistical tests were used to determine two groups of feeding guilds: zoobenthivores and omnivores, with significant differences between time and habitat. The relationships between fish feeding habits, size class and environmental variables were investigated using canonical correspondence analysis (CCA). Most of the species showed a low niche breadth with high specialization towards amphipod consumption, with the exception of L. rhomboides (0·60), which indicated generalist feeding. This study in a protected area is an important source of information for drawing up conservation policies in relation to the management of aquatic resources, and will aid in the establishment of priority areas for conservation.

Los manglares son reconocidos por los servicios ecológicos que proveen a muchas especies de peces. Estudios previos sobre restauración ecológica han pasado por alto estas funciones, generalmente enfocándose a la restauración de cobertura vegetal. El objetivo fue determinar las funciones de los manglares como zonas de refugio y alimentación para peces, evaluando la composición y abundancia en sitios con diferente tiempo de restauración. Se realizaron 2 muestreos en 4 sitios de manglar en restauración en Yucatán-Celestún 1, Celestún 2, Yucalpetén, Progreso-, en donde se registraron 22 especies de peces. Celestún 2 fue el sitio con mayor riqueza y diversidad (Gambusia yucatana, Poecilia velifera, Mugil cephalus y Anchoa mitchilli las más abundantes). Progreso registró la diversidad más baja y alta dominancia de G. yucatana (> 90%). El sitio con mayor tiempo de restauración presentó organismos juveniles detritófagos y zoobentófagos. Los resultados demuestran la función del manglar como zona de crianza y alimentación para especies marinas que intervienen en la transferencia de energía y nutrientes con sistemas adyacentes, también demuestran gran dominancia de G. yucatana, una especie endémica y característica del ecosistema de manglar en Yucatán. Derechos Reservados © 2016 Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Instituto de Biología. Este es un artículo de acceso abierto distribuido bajo los términos de la Licencia Creative Commons CC BY-NC-ND 4.0.

We compared the diets of Atlantic needlefish, Strongylura marina, and redfin needlefish, Strongylura notata, in the Alvarado lagoonal system, Veracruz, Mexico, and analyzed diet breadth and trophic overlap between the species. All fishes were collected monthly from June 2000 to July 2001 at twelve sampling stations. A total of 74 intestinal tracts from S. marina were analyzed. The diet of S. marina consisted of 25 prey types with fish being the dominate prey. In eighty-nine digestive tracts examined from S. notata, the diet consisted of 29 prey types with the dominant prey including fishes, penaeid shrimp, polychaetes, and hymenopteran insects. There was moderate diet overlap (α = 0.4903) between S. marina and S. notata in the rainy season, while there was little diet overlap between species during the "nortes" (α = 0.1037) or dry (α = 0.1675) season. There was reduced niche breadth in both S. marina and S. notata during the "nortes" (BA = 0.175 and 0.105, respectively) and dry (BA = 0.128 and 0.173, respectively) seasons, with niche breadth values being higher for both species during the rainy season (BA = 0.254 and 0.296, respectively). RESUMEN Se realizó una comparación de la dieta de los belonidos, Strongylura marina y Strongylura notata, en el sistema lagunar de Alvarado, Veracruz, México, analizando la amplitud de dieta y el solapamiento trófico de ambas especies. Los organismos se colectaron mensualmente en el período de junio de 2000 a julio de 2001 en 12 estaciones de muestreo. Se analizaron 74 tractos digestivos de S. marina. La dieta de S. marina consiste de 25 tipos de presa de los cuales los peces constituyeron la presa dominante. Para S. notata se analizaron 89 tractos digestivos, la dieta de esta especie comprendió 29 tipos de presas diferentes, siendo los peces, camarón, poliquetos e himenópteros las presas dominantes para esta especie. El solapamiento trófico entre S. marina y S. notata fue moderado (α = 0.4903) en la época de lluvias, disminuyendo en las épocas de nortes (α = 0.1037) y secas (α = 0.1675). La amplitud del nicho trófico para S. marina y S. notata fue baja en nortes (BA = 0.175 y 0.105, respectivamente) y en secas (BA = 0.128 y 0.173, respectivamente), siendo mayor para ambas especies en la época de lluvias (BA = 0.254 y 0.296, respectivamente).

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The loss of mangrove areas due to anthropogenic activities has triggered efforts to recover or restore these ecosystems, their functions, and associated diversity. Such functions include nursery areas and energy flow through trophic relationships for a large variety of inhabitant species (e.g., fish). The food webs and trophic dynamics of estuarine fish provide important information on the food resources in mangrove ecosystems and their response to restoration processes. Nonetheless, few studies focus on using fish feeding characteristics as an approximation to assess the conservation or recovery status of these aquatic ecosystems. Thus, the aim of the present study was to compare the trophic dynamics of an ichthyic community in a mangrove ecosystem related to karstic wetlands in the Mexican–Caribbean using freshwater, estuarine, and marine fish species as bioindicators of the restoration process in mangroves. Stomach contents were analyzed for eight species of fish inhabiting specific mangrove zones (1—conserved zone, and 2—restored zone; a zone exposed to ecological restoration processes due to impacts of anthropic activities) related to karstic wetlands in the Mexican–Caribbean. Four feeding characteristics were considered: trophic guild, trophic level, feeding strategy, and prey abundance. Results showed differences and changes in the use of food sources at the trophic level mainly for Floridichthys polyommus, changing from a secondary consumer in the conserved zones to a primary consumer in the restored zones. This suggests that the feeding characteristics of the inhabiting fish are related to the mangrove’s conservation/restoration status and the trophic dynamics in the community. The results of this study are relevant as a tool for mangrove restoration plans regarding the analysis of fish and their food prey, in order to perform an easy and rapid assessment to determine the conservation/restoration status of these aquatic ecosystems from a functional perspective.