An approach to the floristics and faunistics of the intertidal zone in El Pulpo rocky shore, Cazones, Veracruz, Mexico.

Abstract

El intermareal rocoso de Veracruz, México, es un ecosistema que resguarda una gran biodiversidad. Sin embargo, no se ha reconocido su relevancia como con otros ecosistemas marinos. El objetivo de este estudio fue elaborar las primeras listas florística y faunística del intermareal rocoso de El Pulpo, localizada en el municipio de Cazones, Veracruz. Para ello, desde el 2013 a 2016 se efectuaron muestreos en la franja intermareal rocosa en periodos de marea baja para el registro de la biota marina y la recolecta de material biológico para su identificación taxonómica. Además, se realizó una revisión bibliográfica para complementar las listas de especies. Se registraron 51 especies de macroalgas bentónicas, una especie de fanerógama, 186 especies de invertebrados, y cinco especies de vertebrados para un total de 243 especies marinas. Las Rhodophyta son la ficoflora más representada con 29 especies, mientras que el Phylum Mollusca lo es para la fauna con 139 especies. La mayoría de las especies marinas se registraron en el intermareal medio e inferior; por consiguiente la menor riqueza se registró en el intermareal superior y la constituyen algas filamentosas y foliosas, así como moluscos y crustáceos con hábitos ramoneadores y filtradores. Esta distribución coincide con las descritas para otros ambientes intermareales rocosos. La cantidad de especies registradas en el intermareal rocoso de El Pulpo pone en evidencia la relevancia de este ecosistema por lo que es necesario fomentar acciones para su protección y conservación. An approach to the floristics and faunistics of the intertidal zone in El Pulpo rocky shore, Cazones, Veracruz, MexicoThe rocky intertidal of Veracruz, Mexico is a coastal ecosystem with high biodiversity. However, its relevance has not been recognized compared with other marine ecosystems. The objective of this study was to develop the first floristic and faunistic lists of the rocky intertidal of El Pulpo beach, located in the municipality of Cazones, Veracruz. Samples were taken from 2013 to 2016 in the rocky intertidal strip in periods of low tide in order to record the marine biota and the collection of biological material for their taxonomic identification. In addition, a bibliographic review was performed to complement the species inventory. Fifty-one species of benthic macroalgae, one species of phanerogam, 186 species of invertebrates, and five species of vertebrates were recorded totaling 243 intertidal marine species. The Rhodophyta are the most representative of the phycoflora with 29 species, while the phylum Mollusca are the most representative of the fauna with 139 species. Most of the marine species were recorded in the middle and lower intertidal. Consequently, the lowest richness was recorded in the upper intertidal which consists of filamentous and foliose algae, mollusks and crustaceans with both browsing and filter habits. This distribution coincides with those described for other rocky intertidal environments. The number of species recorded in the rocky intertidal of El Pulpo beach demonstrates the relevance of this ecosystem. It is thus necessary to encourage actions for its protection and conservation.

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“…With the information obtained from the samplings, a systematic list of the identified species was elaborated and it was complemented with the records provided by Tunnell (1974), Tunnell et al (2007), De la Cruz-Francisco & González-Gándara (2006), De la Cruz-Francisco (2013), De la Cruz-Francisco et al (2017a), for the purpose of compiling all species records and updating the taxonomic list of sea slugs for the LTRS. The systematic arrangement at the order level follows the criteria of Bouchet et al (2017), while the species within each order were listed alphabetically.…”

“…On the other hand, for the Tuxpan and Oro Verde reefs there are recent reports that provide the first record of 11 species of sea slugs (De la Cruz-Francisco et al, 2017b). It is worth mentioning that near LTRS, many species of sea slugs have been reported for the Tampamachoco lagoon (De la Cruz-Francisco et al, 2020a) and for the rocky coast of Cazones, Veracruz (De la Cruz-Francisco et al, 2017a). Although the current information on sea slugs for LTRS is valuable, it is still necessary to unify it and update it with new unpublished data.…”

Updated list and new records of sea slugs (Gastropoda: Heterobranchia) in the Lobos-Tuxpan Reef System, Mexico

“…With the information obtained from the samplings, a systematic list of the identified species was elaborated and it was complemented with the records provided by Tunnell (1974), Tunnell et al (2007), De la Cruz-Francisco & González-Gándara (2006), De la Cruz-Francisco (2013), De la Cruz-Francisco et al (2017a), for the purpose of compiling all species records and updating the taxonomic list of sea slugs for the LTRS. The systematic arrangement at the order level follows the criteria of Bouchet et al (2017), while the species within each order were listed alphabetically.…”

“…On the other hand, for the Tuxpan and Oro Verde reefs there are recent reports that provide the first record of 11 species of sea slugs (De la Cruz-Francisco et al, 2017b). It is worth mentioning that near LTRS, many species of sea slugs have been reported for the Tampamachoco lagoon (De la Cruz-Francisco et al, 2020a) and for the rocky coast of Cazones, Veracruz (De la Cruz-Francisco et al, 2017a). Although the current information on sea slugs for LTRS is valuable, it is still necessary to unify it and update it with new unpublished data.…”