Abstract
A total of 190 pipefishes of the species Syngnathus louisianae and Syngnathus scovelli were collected in Tamiahua Lagoon, Veracruz (Mexico), between 1994 and 1995. Seasonal variations in abundance (0.0009–0.0045 ind/m2), biomass (0.0005–0.0090 g/m2) and average weight (0.31–1.98 g/ind) of both species are related to the population structure throughout the life histories and the seasonal environmental changes in the system. The biomass of S. louisianae peaked during the rainy season (0.0045 ind/m2, 0.0090 g/m2) and that of S. scovelli during the nortes season (0.0035 ind/m2, 0.0011 g/m2). Juveniles (35–120 mm TL) and adults (85–250 mm TL) of both species are found in seagrass habitats with salinities of 18.5–21.4‰. Both species have separate refuge, growth and feeding areas, which allows a better partitioning of space and food resources within the ecosystem. This can modify the spatial and temporal distribution and abundance patterns according to the life cycle.
Highlights
Las especies de la familia Syngnathidae son típicas de mares cálidos tropicales y subtropicales
Syngnathus louisianae was widely distributed in Tamiahua Lagoon, with the highest frequency of occurrence (>70%) in the eastern part, in areas with marine influence dominated by seagrass meadows
The presence of seagrasses, polychaetes, mollusks and certain fishes reflects a stable habitat for marine species and, for this reason, many fish have wide areas of distribution that extend from the sea to inside the lagoons
Summary
Las especies de la familia Syngnathidae (peces pipa y caballitos de mar) son típicas de mares cálidos tropicales y subtropicales. En las costas del Atlántico americano, incluyendo el Golfo de México y Mar Caribe, se distribuyen 29 especies de esta familia. Los machos presentan una bolsa incubadora especial en la que llevan los huevos fertilizados. En la Laguna de Tamiahua se presentan dos especies de peces pipa: Syngnathus louisianae (Günther, 1870) y Syngnathus scovelli (Evermann y Kendall, 1896). No obstante su importancia ecológica, son pocos los estudios que tratan aspectos de su taxonomía, biología y ecología. Entre los trabajos más relevantes se pueden mencionar los de Kilby (1955), Herald (1965), Dawson (1972), Herald y Dawson (1972), Huh y Kitting (1985), Fuller y Bergland (1996) y Jones y Avise (1997)
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