Abstract
The intertidal zone (also known as seashore) are transition areas between land and sea, that are greatly influenced by the tide cycle, therefore, environmental parameters, such as temperature and salinity, oscillate according to the periods in which these areas are exposed to air. Intertidal zones are highly diverse, which makes them key ecosystems for the development of sea life (both flora and fauna) exposed to drastic environmental change. The 59 visual censuses campaigns were carried out during the full moon of each month from 2015 to 2019. Temperature, salinity and dissolved oxygen were recorded during each visual census and showed variations between years. Temperature showed two distinct seasons, warm and cold. A total of 14,995 organisms were recorded, belonging to 30 species, 28 genera, 15 families, five orders and one class. Ecological indices like species richness (SR), Shannon-Wiener’s diversity (H') and Fisher’s alpha (α-Fisher) showed significant differences between years, 2015 and 2016 recorded as the most diverse years, while the lowest values were recorded in 2019. Therefore, fish communities of tide pools showed to be highly diverse, with 30 species recording similar relative abundances, and according to the BVI, only 11 species were dominant. Spatio-temporal variations of temperature, salinity and dissolved oxygen were highly correlated to changes in fish community structure, and the dominance of certain species, which are of great importance for the structure and dynamic of the tide pool communities. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to determine the fish community structure of tide pools during the low tide in the intertidal zone of a locality known as El Faro, on the west coast of La Paz, B. C. S., Mexico.
Highlights
IntroductionThe Pacific coast of the state of Baja California Sur in México, ranges from Cabo San Lucas on the south (tip of the Baja California peninsula) to Guerrero Negro (28th parallel north)
The Pacific coast of the state of Baja California Sur in México, ranges from Cabo San Lucas on the south to Guerrero Negro (28th parallel north)
Spatio-temporal variations of temperature, salinity and dissolved oxygen were highly correlated to changes in fish community structure, and the dominance of certain species, which are of great importance for the structure and dynamic of the tide pool communities
Summary
The Pacific coast of the state of Baja California Sur in México, ranges from Cabo San Lucas on the south (tip of the Baja California peninsula) to Guerrero Negro (28th parallel north). During the spring/summer months (April to June), this area is influenced by the California current, which brings cold and nutrient rich water to the surface ( known as an upwelling zone), that when collide with the warm waters from the North equatorial current, form a transition zone between Magdalena Bay and Guadalupe Island known as an ecotone (region of transition between two biological communities), which is a highly productive and diverse area that serves as breeding ground for many fish species, and is inhabited by many species of high commercial value [1] [2] This coastal area is characterized by an intertidal zone, which is a transition area between land and sea that is composed by a heterogeneous rocky substrate forming tide pools, which are highly diverse bodies of water that serve as permanent or seasonal shelter for many species of fishes and invertebrates [3].
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