Diversity, seasonal and diel distribution of snappers (Lutjanidae: Perciformes) in a tropical coastal inlet in the southwestern Gulf of Mexico

Abstract

Snappers are marine fishes, but juveniles of many species migrate to estuaries, using these systems as nursery areas. The purpose of this study was to know the environmental factors mainly related to the migration patterns of lutjanids in La Mancha lagoon inlet. During 19 months, 24-hour cycles were performed monthly, taking samples every two hours (442 samples). Environmental variables recorded in situ and with regional records such as rainfall, atmospheric temperature and day length were considered. Genetic barcoding (COI) was used to validate species identity. Significant differences were evaluated by PERMANOVA and a Canonical Correspondence Analysis was used to determine the importance of environmental variables. Six species were recorded and the most abundant showed significant differences among months, with migration patterns during the warm-rainy season. Day length, salinity and rainfall (two of them with regional incidence) were the variables significantly associated with the distribution of the species. The abundance of Lutjanus analis, L. jocu, and L. cyanopterus was inversely associated with the length of daylight and directly related to rainfall, while L. synagris and L. griseus showed segregation along a salinity gradient. Thus, migration patterns were mainly correlated with factors of regional coverage and greater seasonal influence.

Recent Findings on Spawning Patterns and Recommendations for the Fishery Management of the Southern Red Snapper—Lutjanus purpureus (Poey, 1866)—On the Amazon Continental Shelf of Brazil

“…In addition to biological research, such as that of the present study, there is a clear need for more detailed scientific studies of the Amazon reef, which is a highly sensitive and vulnerable environment, which is crucial to the stocks of many species, but is also affected by intense fishing activity [7,31]. Microscopic analyses aligned with the macroscopic assessment of the involution period of aquatic organisms are proving to be highly effective [26,78,83,84], although other aspects of the reproductive process also require attention, such as the larval life stage and the influence of the lunar phase on spawning patterns [85,86].…”