Spatial and temporal habitat use by penaeid shrimp (Decapoda: Penaeidae) in a coastal lagoon of the southwestern Gulf of Mexico

Abstract

Knowledge of the environmental factors that influence the spatial–temporal densities of penaeid shrimp in Mecoacán Lagoon is important for understanding their relationship with the presence (migration) and estuarine habitat preferences. In the present study, the relationships between the physical–chemicalcomponents of water and sediments and the population dynamics of penaeid shrimp in Mecoacán Lagoon were evaluated according to a spatial–temporal and multihabitat approach. In six monitoring sites (Boca, Cerros, Mojarrero, Aspoquero Arrastradero and Pajaral), the density and biomass of shrimp were determined from November 2014 to October 2015 based on monthly captures with two nets (seine and renfro) in three habitats: mangrove, soft substrates without vegetation, and submerged aquatic vegetation that corresponds to seagrasses (seagrasses was registered only in Boca and Cerros). The maximum salinity was found in Boca (23 ± 2.6PSU), with pH values ranging from 7.9 ± 0.1 to 8.3 ± 0.2, and the maximum dissolved oxygen was found in Cerros (6.6 ± 0.5mg/L). The average texture of sediments was 62 ± 3.5% sand, 24 ± 2.4% silt, and 14 ± 1.2% clay. The highest organic matter (7.8 ± 1.2%) and nitrogen (875mg/kg) contents were recorded in Pajaral. A total of 5,085 penaeid shrimp were captured (seine 77% and renfro 33%), including the species Farfantepenaeus aztecus (Ives) (1,774 ind.), Farfantepenaeus duorarum (Burkenroad) (1,559 ind.), and Litopenaeus setiferus (L.) (1,752 ind.), with a total wet weight of 2,419 g. The spatial segregation patterns of penaeid shrimp suggest that their temporal distribution and habitat preferences are important for reducing interspecific competition. Salinity, dissolved oxygen, organic matter content, and sediment type were the factors that most influenced the spatial–temporal differences in the density and biomass of the penaeid shrimp among sites. Knowledge of the habitat distribution and preferences of key estuarine species such as penaeid shrimp can be used as an informational baseline for evaluating future environmental scenarios and modeling species distribution along the estuarine gradient.