Skip Navigation

ICES Journal of Marine Science: Journal du Conseil 2005 62(3):453-458; doi:10.1016/j.icesjms.2004.12.004
This Article
Right arrow Full Text Freely available
Right arrow FREE Full Text (PDF) Freely available
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Add to My Personal Archive
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrowRequest Permissions
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Sosa-López, A.
Right arrow Articles by Ramos-Miranda, J.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow Articles by Sosa-López, A.
Right arrow Articles by Ramos-Miranda, J.
Social Bookmarking
Add to CiteULike   Add to Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us  
What's this?

© 2005 International Council for the Exploration of the Sea

Ecological indicators based on fish biomass distribution along trophic levels: an application to the Terminos coastal lagoon, Mexico

Atahualpa Sosa-Lópeza,*, David Mouillotb, Thang Do Chib and Julia Ramos-Mirandaa

a Centro de Ecología, Pesquerías y Oceanografía de Golfo de México (EPOMEX), Universidad Autónoma de Campeche Av. Agustín Melgar s/n, Campeche, México 24030
b UMR CNRS-UMII 5119, "Ecosystemes Lagunaires" cc 093, Université Montpellier II 340595 Montpellier Cedex 5, France

*Correspondence to A. Sosa-López: tel: +52 9818 111600; fax: +52 9818 119800. e-mail: atahsosa{at}uacam.mx.

Cumulative relative biomass trophic level spectra (BTLS) are constructed for the fish community of a tropical coastal lagoon in Mexico to analyse spatio-temporal patterns as a potential ecosystem indicator of multifactor impacts. Data were based on monthly trawl surveys over a single year carried out eighteen years apart. The spectra show significant differences between the two periods, indicating major shifts in the trophic structure of the system. Specifically, biomass of the omnivorous, estuarine species in the middle of the foodweb (originally dominating) has been replaced by carnivorous and herbivorous–detritivorous species. As a consequence, the initial sigmoid shape of the BTLS has tended to become more linear. However, interpretation of the causes involved remains unclear. It is suggested that this potential indicator of trophic status of the fish community reflects a combination of interacting driving forces acting simultaneously in the lagoon: (i) increased marine conditions as well as artificial reefs constructed in adjacent zones may enhance biomass of marine predators and detritivorous species; (ii) attenuation of estuarine influences may lead to decreasing biomass of estuarine generalist species; and (iii) the establishment of a marine protected area may increase predator biomass, causing a decline in prey biomass.

Keywords: coastal lagoon, cumulative relative biomass trophic level spectra, fish diet, habitat impact, marine protected area, shrimp-trawl survey


Add to CiteULike CiteULike   Add to Connotea Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us Del.icio.us    What's this?




Disclaimer:
Please note that abstracts for content published before 1996 were created through digital scanning and may therefore not exactly replicate the text of the original print issues. All efforts have been made to ensure accuracy, but the Publisher will not be held responsible for any remaining inaccuracies. If you require any further clarification, please contact our Customer Services Department.