Spatial and temporal distribution of Myrophis punctatus (Ophichthidae) and associated fish fauna in a northern Brazilian intertidal mangrove forest

Barletta, M.; Saint-Paul, Ulrich; Barletta-Bergan, Audrey; Ekau, Werner; Schories, Dirk

doi:10.1007/978-94-011-4148-2_6

Cited by 32 publications

(48 citation statements)

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“…The vegetated intertidal zone is a potentially essential habitat for fish and crustaceans as significant correlations have been identified between the areal extent of salt marshes, mangroves, and commercial catches from adjacent waters (Turner 1977, Barbier & Strand 1998, Manson et al 2005. Nekton enter the intertidal zone when it is tidally inundated and generally depart prior to its complete drainage, returning to the subtidal zone (Sheaves 2005, but see Barletta et al 2000). Species that make this tidal migration benefit through the exploitation of intertidal food sources (Hampel & Cattrijsse 2004, Hollingsworth & Connolly 2006, Rilov & Schiel 2006, Brenner & Krumme 2007 and reduced susceptibility to depth-restricted predators (Halpin 2000, Linehan et al 2001, Ellis & Bell 2004.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Tidal influence on a fringing mangrove intertidal fish community as observed by in situ video recording: implications for studies of tidally migrating nekton

Ellis¹,

Bell²

2008

Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser.

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The vegetated intertidal zone has long been acknowledged as an important habitat for fish, but our understanding of the dynamics of intertidal migrations by these fish is limited. Using in situ video recordings, we examined fish movements into and out of the waterward margin of a fringing mangrove forest during spring tides at 27 haphazardly chosen sites throughout the Rookery Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, Florida. Our results indicate that fish respond to tide stage in a species-specific manner. Based on the changes in relative abundance throughout the tide cycle, we identified 4 general intertidal migration patterns: (1) tide-level proportionate, with greatest abundance during high tide; (2) flood-and ebb-tide concentrated, with lowest abundance during high tide; (3) peak abundance at ebb and low tide; and (4) depth-limited but tidally independent. Given that the distribution of the fish within the intertidal zone was heterogeneous, we suggest that the placement of sampling gear within the intertidal zone and the timing of samples within the tide cycle can greatly influence the species composition of fish inventories.KEY WORDS: Fish · Tidal migration · Intertidal · Mangrove · Video · Sampling 370: 207-219, 2008 Our knowledge of the habitat use and dynamics of intertidal migrations has been limited by the logistic difficulties inherent to sampling mobile fauna in structurally complex aquatic habitats (see review by Rozas & Minello 1997). Such sampling is often laborintensive, may require habitat alteration (e.g. removal of vegetation) for the placement of sampling gear, and commonly relies on the ebbing tide to concentrate targeted species for collection. These challenges limit both spatial and temporal sampling replication, and largely prohibit in situ sequential sampling designs that are ideally suited for the study of the within-tide movements of intertidal migrants (Gibson 2003). Resale or republication not permitted without written consent of the publisherMar Ecol Prog SerIn studies of nekton associated with mangrove habitats, the sampling period, when reported, has often been restricted to a single stage of the tide cycle (usually high tide), or if sampling was conducted over multiple tide stages, results have been reported as a cumulative total of individuals captured without mention of within-tide dynamics (Table 1). Quantitative sampling in the mangrove intertidal zone (sensu Rozas & Minello 1997) using enclosure gear has been, to our knowledge, restricted to high tide (Table 1). Passive sampling gear (e.g. fyke nets and block nets, Table 1) that collects fish from generally undefined areas of the intertidal zone as they are drained is positioned at high tide or late flood tide. In each of these instances, the usually implicit, and untested, assumption upon which the sampling designs were based was that most fish swim into the mangrove habitat with the flood tide and depart the intertidal zone as it is drained during the ebb. This assumption is revealed when these studies are in...

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Tidal influence on a fringing mangrove intertidal fish community as observed by in situ video recording: implications for studies of tidally migrating nekton

Ellis¹,

Bell²

2008

Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser.

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“…Mangroves provide refuges for adult and larval stages of fishes and crustaceans, many of which are commercially important (Blaber & Blaber 1980, Griffin 1985, Lenaton & Potter 1987, Robertson & Duke 1990). However, mangrove forests are unstable habitats in which salinity and dissolved oxygen fluctuate greatly (Kjerfvue 1990, Barletta et al 2000, Blaber 2000). Many intertidal fishes are able to withstand these environmental changes (Barletta et al 2000).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, mangrove forests are unstable habitats in which salinity and dissolved oxygen fluctuate greatly (Kjerfvue 1990, Barletta et al 2000, Blaber 2000). Many intertidal fishes are able to withstand these environmental changes (Barletta et al 2000). This ecosystem is used by many marine species as a nursery ground.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Seasonal changes in density, biomass, and diversity of estuarine fishes in tidal mangrove creeks of the lower Caeté Estuary (northern Brazilian coast, east Amazon)

Barletta¹,

Barletta-Bergan²,

Saint-Paul³

et al. 2003

Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser.

183

151

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The present study investigated the assemblage of fish species in an intertidal mangrove forest during high tide in a macrotide region. We describe the seasonal changes in the fish assemblage composition in relation to biomass, density, and species number in tidal creeks of the Furo do Meio, Caeté Estuary, Brazil. A total of 29 107 individuals of 49 species in 26 families were caught using a block net. Their total weight was 526 kg (total density 0.11 ind. m -2 and total biomass 2.1 g m -2). Analysis of the catch data showed that the number of species varied significantly between creeks, and that total fish biomass differed significantly between seasons. The densities and biomass of the 2 most important species, Cathorops pleurops and Colomesus psittacus, were significantly different between seasons. The densities and biomass of C. pleurops, Pterengraulis atherinoides, Pseudauchnipterus nodosus, and Stellifer naso showed significant temporal differences. Significant differences between creeks were observed in the density and biomass of Anchovia clupeoides and Rhinosardinia amazonica. The abundance-biomass comparison (ABC) plots for the fish fauna in the creeks of the Furo do Meio showed that the dominant species increased in number and weight at the beginning of the rainy season. As a result of increased rainfall in March and April, salinity declined to values between 6 and 8 psu. At that time, the dominant species made up more than 60% of the total biomass and density and Hill's index of diversity (N1) declined, whereas the number of species (N0) and evenness (E2) did not change. After April, rainfall decreased, and density and biomass returned to levels similar to those before the rainy season. The number of species and the density and biomass in the mangrove tidal creeks are compared with published data for other tropical and subtropical estuaries. Migration trends were inferred from the results of the seasonal fluctuations of density and biomass of the most important species in the Furo do Meio, and are compared with data from other studies in the main channel of the Caeté Estuary.

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“…This species spends most of its time motionless or digging through the sand substrate. During low tide, they inhabit crab holes avoiding desiccation until the next flood tide (Barletta et al, 2000). According to these authors, they usually live in areas with a high density of individuals.…”

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confidence: 99%

Spatial choice is biased by chemical cues from conspecifics in the speckeled worm eel Myrophis punctatus

et al. 2010

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The speckeld worm eel Myrophis punctatus lives in high-densities assemblages, and usually digs through, or lies on the substrate. These behaviours could lead to chemical marks on the substrate and could modulate the spatial distribution in this species. We tested the hypothesis that the spatial choice of the speckled worm eel is modulated by the presence of conspecific odour on the substrate. Here, we showed that the speckled worm eel avoids the substrate area containing the conspecific odour, indicating that this chemical cue modulates the eel's spatial decision. The eels clearly detected the conspecific's odour. This perception might indicate the presence of conspecifics into the substrate. Since the eels avoided an area containing conspecific odour, we suggest this may be a response that avoids the consequences of invading a resident-animal's territory.A enguia mirongo-mirim Myrophis punctatus vive em agrupamentos de alta densidade populacional e comumente se enterra ou permanece sob o substrato. Esses comportamentos podem levar a marcas químicas no subtrato e podem, portanto, modular o uso do espaço nessa espécie. Neste estudo, testamos a hipótese de que a preferência espacial da enguia mirongo-mirim é influenciada pela presença de odor do animal coespecífico no subtrato. Mostramos que as enguias evitam a área que contém tal odor, indicando que as decisões de ocupação espacial podem ser influenciadas por pistas químicas de coespecíficos. As enguias claramente detectaram o odor de um animal coespecífico e essa percepção poderia ser um indicativo da presença de um coespecífico enterrado no substrato. Visto que elas evitam uma área contendo tal odor, sugerimos que isso poderia ser uma resposta para evitar invadir o território de um animal residente.

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Spatial and temporal distribution of Myrophis punctatus (Ophichthidae) and associated fish fauna in a northern Brazilian intertidal mangrove forest

Cited by 32 publications

References 20 publications

Tidal influence on a fringing mangrove intertidal fish community as observed by in situ video recording: implications for studies of tidally migrating nekton

Tidal influence on a fringing mangrove intertidal fish community as observed by in situ video recording: implications for studies of tidally migrating nekton

Seasonal changes in density, biomass, and diversity of estuarine fishes in tidal mangrove creeks of the lower Caeté Estuary (northern Brazilian coast, east Amazon)

Spatial choice is biased by chemical cues from conspecifics in the speckeled worm eel Myrophis punctatus

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