Spatial Trends of the Potential Association Between Benthic Macrofauna and non-Source Point Sediment Pollutants in the Yucatán Continental Shelf.

Here we explored the potential association of the benthic macrofauna species composition with aliphatic hydrocarbons, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and metals concentration detected in the sediments of the Yucatan continental Shelf (YCS), Mexico. The main objective was to provide insights on the temporal and spatial changes of such association in the function of the longitudinal and depth gradient. Benthic species composition, Al, Ni and Pb showed significant differences among YCS sub-regions (Western Caribbean, Mid-Yucatan and West Yucatan), and depth. Aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons had similar concentration in all sub-regions. The species composition was significantly associated with the levels of aliphatic hydrocarbons in the shallow sites (15-50 m) of the YCS sub-regions. Our results provide the first insights into the presence and spatial trends of different concentration of non-point source hydrocarbons and metals along the YCS, essential to establish the current ecological condition and to set a reference condition to identify further changes.

Fish species richness in the Terminos Lagoon: An occurrence data compilation of four sampling campaigns along a multidecadal series.

BACKGROUND: Here we present an occurrence dataset that contributes to the knowledge of tropical fish distribution in coastal habitats from the Terminos Lagoon Flora and Fauna Protection Area, one of the largest lagoon ecosystems in the Gulf of Mexico. Fish are high biomass keystone species in the Terminos Lagoon which provide socio-economic and ecosystem services. An initiative in 1980 was carried out to systematically sample the fish community of Terminos Lagoon for an annual cycle; the effectiveness of its results led to replicate in the lagoon the same sampling design for three more campaigns in 1998, 2010 and 2016. Constituted as a Flora and Fauna Protection Area in 1994, the Terminos Lagoon has received many efforts to inventory its biodiversity, particularly on the fish community since the 70s; however, these studies did not have consistent survey protocols, nor the longevity of the present study, which was over four decades. NEW INFORMATION: A total of 141 fish species, belonging to 90 genera, 49 families, 20 orders and two classes are presented in this study. Information on fish species occurrence data is provided corresponding to the Terminos Lagoon coastal ecosystem, southern Gulf of Mexico, assembled from four time periods at 1980, 1998, 2010 and 2016. The records form part of a consistently homogeneous database compilation, mostly derived from the research programme's sampled material on tropical fishery resources of the "Instituto de Ecologia, Pesquerias y Oceanografia del Golfo de Mexico (EPOMEX)". The current dataset represents the first and most comprehensive online open-access source of information concerning the fish community occurring along and wide of the Terminos Lagoon ecosystem, with 1,249 data records and a total count of 48,717 organisms. Data are available through the Ocean Biodiversity Information System (OBIS).

Gammaropsis elvirae sp. nov., a widely distributed amphipod (Amphipoda: Photidae) in the Yucatan Shelf, with ecological comments and a key for the genus in tropical America.

Gammaropsis elvirae sp. nov. is described and illustrated here, as a new species of the family Photidae Boeck, 1871, occurring on sites widely distributed in the soft-sediment habitats from the Yucatan shelf, southern Gulf of Mexico. This new species differs from all other congeners by a unique set of characteristics: lateral cephalic lobes rounded; outer lobes of lower lip with one cone on each lobe; gnathopod 1 propodus longer than carpus; gnathopod 2 propodus enlarged with small convoluted processes on posterior margin and palmar angle undefined; gnathopod 2 dactylus short, less than one half in length of propodus; dense setation on basis, carpus, and propodus of gnathopod 2; epimeral plates 1-3 rounded; inner ramus of uropods 1-3 longer than outer ramus; and telson emarginated. Ecological comments on spatial distribution and associated environmental variables are included, as well an identification key to the genus in tropical America.

A dataset on the species composition of amphipods (Crustacea) in a Mexican marine national park: Alacranes Reef, Yucatan.

BACKGROUND: Alacranes Reef was declared as a National Marine Park in 1994. Since then, many efforts have been made to inventory its biodiversity. However, groups such as amphipods have been underestimated or not considered when benthic invertebrates were inventoried. Here we present a dataset that contributes to the knowledge of benthic amphipods (Crustacea, Peracarida) from the inner lagoon habitats from the Alacranes Reef National Park, the largest coral reef ecosystem in the Gulf of Mexico. The dataset contains information on records collected from 2009 to 2011. Data are available through Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF). NEW INFORMATION: A total of 110 amphipod species distributed in 93 nominal species and 17 generic species, belonging to 71 genera, 33 families and three suborders are presented here. This information represents the first online dataset of amphipods from the Alacranes Reef National Park. The biological material is currently deposited in the crustacean collection from the regional unit of the National Autonomous University of Mexico located at Sisal, Yucatan, Mexico (UAS-Sisal). The biological material includes 588 data records with a total abundance of 6,551 organisms. The species inventory represents, until now, the richest fauna of benthic amphipods registered from any discrete coral reef ecosystem in Mexico.

Dulichiella celestun, a new species of amphipod (Crustacea: Amphipoda: Melitidae) from the Gulf of Mexico, with a key and zoogeographic remarks for the genus in the western Atlantic.

The discovery of a new melitid amphipod in the Celestun Biosphere Reserve (northern Yucatan peninsula, SE Gulf of Mexico) is reported. Dulichiella celestun sp. nov. differs from its congeners by an unique set of characteristics: truncated lateral cephalic lobe, mandibular palp article 1 having inner margin produced distally, carpus longer than the propodus of gnathopod 1, gnathopod 2 propodus distolateral crown with four spines, pereopods 3-7 dactylar unguis anterior margin with two accessory spines, and urosomite 3 bearing four dorsal spines. A key to species and zoogeographical affinities among members of the genus in the western Atlantic are also provided.

Caribboecetes progreso, a new species of sand-dwelling amphipod (Amphipoda: Corophiidea: Ischyroceridae) from the Gulf of Mexico, with a key for the genus.

A new species of the genus Caribboecetes Just, 1983 is described and illustrated from specimens collected on sandy bottoms of the northern Yucatan Peninsula, southeastern Gulf of Mexico. Caribboecetes progreso sp. nov. differs from the closely related species Caribboecetes barbadensis Just, 1983 and Caribboecetes jenikarpae Just, 1984 by the inflated triangular anterolateral flange on basis of gnathopod 2, and from Caribboecetes justi Ortiz & Lemaitre, 1997 by the setose anterolateral surface of coxal plate 7 and basis of pereopod 7. Ecological notes for the new species, a morphological comparison, map of distribution and key for all members in the genus are also provided.

Benthic amphipods (Amphipoda: Gammaridea and Corophiidea) from the Mexican southeast sector of the Gulf of Mexico: checklist, new records and zoogeographic comments.

The southeast region of the Gulf of Mexico is considered to be biologically important, because it is a connection and transition zone between the Caribbean and the Gulf of Mexico, harboring great marine biodiversity. Nevertheless, benthic amphipods have been poorly studied in the Mexican southeast sector of the Gulf of Mexico with few studies listing species. The aim of this study is to provide an update checklist of species for the Mexican southeast sector (based on literature review and records from the present study) as well as a brief zoogeographical analysis for the Gulf of Mexico amphipod fauna, putting them in context with the fauna on the tropical western Atlantic. Fifty-five species were listed for the Mexican southeast sector; 36 of them showed a geographical extension to the Yucatan continental shelf representing 23 new records for the Mexican southeast sector, nine for the southeast region and four for the Gulf of Mexico. Based on the zoogeographical analysis, there is support of the application of Carolinian and Caribbean zoogeographic provinces to amphipods in the Gulf of Mexico.