RESUMEN
“Los Petenes” Biosphere Reserve (RBLP) is a critical habitat for many aquatic and terrestrial species. It has the biggest and better conserved seagrass beds, and it represents an important habitat for food, protection and breeding of aquatic organisms, and a temporal refuge for migratory species. The objective of this study was to describe the ichthyofauna diversity in the littoral coastal area of the RBLP, to identify the ecological dominant species, and to analyze the abundance of the fish community and its temporal and spatial changes, and their relationship with some environmental variables. Monthly fish samples were obtained with the aid of trawl nets, from 24 samplings sites distributed along the reserve, between May 2009 and April 2010. The trawl net was operated 288 times and 21 795 individuals with 279.5kg of weight were collected. A total of 46 fish species grouped in 34 genera and 23 families were identified. In a spatial scale, the abundance showed the next ranges: 0.018-0.094ind./m²; 0.249-1.072 g/m² and 9.75-19.32g/ind.; the diversity indexes obtained were: Hn=1.46-2.15, J=0.45-0.71 and D=2.08-3.92. In a temporal scale, the abundance and diversity ranged between: 0.026-0.066ind./m2; 0.342-0.764g/m² and 6.49-22.98g/ind.; Hn=1.76-2.08; J’=0.52-0.64 and D=3.07-4.18. Eleven dominant species were identified with a representation of the 94.39% in number of individuals, and 89.66% in weight of the total catch. From the total, eight species had economic or commercial importance, especially Lagodon rhomboides and Haemulon plumierii. The cluster analyses identified four fish associations; these results are discussed in order to identify relationships between habitat-species. Finally, the canonical correspondence analysis evidenced an association between H. plumierii with salinity and dissolved solids. The RBLP has high habitat diversity and its fish community has developed strategies to use all the spatial and temporal conditions and to satisfy the needs of their life cycles.
La Reserva de la Biósfera Los Petenes constituye un hábitat crítico para una gran diversidad de especies de peces, la zona de pastos marinos es utilizada con fines de alimentación, protección, crianza y refugio temporal. El objetivo es analizar la estructura espacio-temporal de la comunidad de peces y su relación con la variabilidad ambiental e identificar las especies dominantes. Se realizaron 12 muestreos mensuales en 24 sitios a partir de mayo 2009 hasta abril 2010. Se realizaron 288 arrastres, se capturó un total de 21 795 organismos con un peso total de 279.5 kg. Se identificaron 46 especies de peces (34 géneros y 23 familias). Los intervalos de variación espacial de la abundancia fueron: 0.018-0.094ind./m²; 0.249-1.072g/m² y 9.75-19.32g/ind. Los índices de diversidad fueron: Hn=1.46-2.15bits/ind., J=0.45-0.71 y D=2.08-3.92. La variación temporal de la abundancia y diversidad fue de 0.026-0.066ind./m²; 0.342-0.764g/m² y 6.49-22.98g/ind. Hn=1.76-2.08; J=0.52-0.64 y D=3.07-4.18. Se identificaron 11 especies dominantes, que representan el 94.39% en número de individuos y 89.66% en peso de la captura total. El análisis cluster permite identificar cuatro grupos de especies que se asocian a las distintas condiciones de hábitat de la reserva. El análisis de correspondencia canónica destaca la asociación de H. plumierii con la salinidad y los sólidos disueltos. La RBLP cuenta con una alta diversidad de hábitats y la comunidad de peces ha desarrollado estrategias para aprovechar todas las condiciones espaciales y temporales y así satisfacer sus necesidades en el desarrollo de sus ciclos de vida.