Abstract
Opsanus beta is a permanent species in the Alvarado Lagoon System (ALS), Veracruz, and eventhough it is not of economic importance, it might be actively involved in the energy transfer of the system. Currently, there is no information about the reproductive and ecological characteristics of this common fish, so this work aimed to evaluate those aspects, and to contribute with some ecological features. For this, a total of six sampling sites were selected and studied from April 2008 to December 2012. Per site, we determined fish seasonality, feeding, sex ratio, gonadosomatic index, hepatosomatic and condition factors for both sexes, as well as the fecundity and length-weight relationships. We also considered some environmental parameters such as temperature, water temperature, depth, salinity and pH. Our results on the environmental parameters analysis did not show significant differences for the study period; besides, salinity data confirmed an oligohaline environment, and the rest of the physico-chemical parameters, varied in accordance with the climatic pattern in the area. We captured a total of 519 fishes, 311 (59.9 %) males and 208 (41.1 %) females; the proportion of males resulted favorable against females throughout the study. The standard length found along the study period showed that the average was higher in males than in females. The trophic spectrum was composed of 13 food items, principally crustaceans, molluscs and fishes; in addition, cannibalism was observed over young individuals during March and April. The most advanced stages of gonadal maturation were recorded from November to March for males, and from November to February in females; generally, the Gonadosomatic index (IGS) recorded the highest values from November to April. The Hepatosomatic Index (IHS) and the Condition Factor (FC) presented an inverse relationship with the Gonadosomatic index (IGS). The fecundity of this species ranged from 96 to 428 oocytes per female. The weight-length relationship by sexes and seasons, showed a higher growth rate for males than for females, and an allometric growth type. The biological and ecological information of O. beta in ALS evidenced the importance of this species and its ecological role in the structure and dynamics of these aquatic communities. This species may be used as a model for future proposals dealing with the management and sustainable use of this ecosystem.
Highlights
De las diversas especies de peces que habitan este sistema, los representantes de la familia Batrachoididae utilizan tanto las zonas de vegetación sumergida, como áreas de manglar, zonas de ostión y áreas fangosas (Collette & Russo, 1981; Pereira, Silva, Costa, & Costa, 2011) para completar su ciclo de vida
Los resultados obtenidos se procesaron por el Índice de importancia relativa, ajustando su estimación a 100 %
El comportamiento registrado coincide con estudios previos elaborados en Florida y mencionados por Cathleen (2005), que mencionan que esta especie desova en los meses de febrero y marzo, así como los estudios reportados por Keiti (2013) en Brasil, y el de Gallardo, Martinez y Lezina (2004) en Tecolutla, donde encuentran que las etapas de maduración más avanzadas para las hembras de Opsanus beta se dan entre octubre y febrero, y de octubre a abril, respectivamente
Summary
Los ejemplares de Opsanus beta se recolectaron en seis sitios del Sistema Lagunar de Alvarado (que comprendieron las lagunas de Camaronera, Buen País y Alvarado), con el uso de un chinchorro playero, de 50 m de largo, 2.5 m de altura y luz de malla de una pulgada, en las distintas temporadas climáticas de Secas (marzo-abril), lluvias (junio-septiembre) y Nortes (noviembre-febrero) en el período de abril de 2008 a diciembre de 2012 (Fig. 1). Parámetros físico-químicos: El registro de los parámetros fisicoquímicos obtenidos de las seis estaciones presentó pequeñas variaciones en cada uno de los meses de colecta y que están directamente relacionados con las temporadas climáticas (Cuadro 1), donde las variaciones de la temperatura del agua, la salinidad y la concentración de oxígeno disuelto entre los años de muestreo no fueron significativas (ANOVA, F5, 24 = 2.621, p < 0.998). Los estadios de maduración registrados a lo largo del estudio por mes para O. beta, permitieron reconocer que, en el caso de los machos, las etapas de maduración más avanzadas (IV y V) se presentaron desde noviembre a marzo (Fig. 4A).
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