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).

A ten-month diseases survey on wild Litopenaeus setiferus (Decapoda: Penaeidae) from Southern Gulf of Mexico.

The development of shrimp aquaculture in Mexican coasts of the Gulf of Mexico began to be explored using the Pacific white shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei in the mid 90's. Many concerns over the risk of disease transmission to the economically important native penaeids, have been the main deterrent for the aquaculture of L. vannamei in the region. Concurrently, more than 10 years of research experience on the aquaculture suitability of the native Litopenaeus setiferus from the Terminos Lagoon, in the Yucatán Peninsula, have been accumulated. The aim of this study was then to determine the seasonal variations of the naturally acquired diseases and the possible detection of exotic pathogens. For this, random subsamples (n-60) of juveniles L. setiferus were collected from monthly captures. In order to detect the widest range of pathogens, including infectious hypodermal and hematopoietic necrosis (IHHNV) and white spot syndrome (WSSV) viruses, both histopathological and molecular methods were employed. Monthly prevalence (%) was calculated for every finding. We were able to detect a total of 16 distinct histological anomalies, most of which the presumptive aetiological agent was readily identified. PCR results for viruses were negative. For some pathogens and symbionts, the prevalence was significantly different between the adult and juvenile populations. Prevalence of diseases tended to be higher in juvenile shrimp than in adults. The results of this study indicated that L. setiferus carry a wide variety of pathogens and symbionts that seem to be endemic to penaeids of the Gulf of Mexico, and those juveniles were more conspicuous to acquire pathogens and symbionts than adults.

A ten-month diseases survey on wild Litopenaeus setiferus (Decapoda: Penaeidae) from Southern Gulf of Mexico / Diez meses de análisis de las enfermedades en especímenes silvestres de Litopenaeus setiferus en el Sur del Golfo de México

The development of shrimp aquaculture in Mexican coasts of the Gulf of Mexico began to be explored using the Pacific white shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei in the mid 90´s. Many concerns over the risk of disease transmission to the economically important native penaeids, have been the main deterrent for the aquaculture of L. vannamei in the region. Concurrently, more than 10 years of research experience on the aquaculture suitability of the native Litopenaeus setiferus from the Terminos Lagoon, in the Yucatán Peninsula, have been accumulated. The aim of this study was then to determine the seasonal variations of the naturally acquired diseases and the possible detection of exotic pathogens. For this, random subsamples (n~60) of juveniles L. setiferus were collected from monthly captures. In order to detect the widest range of pathogens, including infectious hypodermal and hematopoietic necrosis (IHHNv) and white spot syndrome (WSSv) viruses, both histopathological and molecular methods were employed. Monthly prevalence (%) was calculated for every finding. We were able to detect a total of 16 distinct histological anomalies, most of which the presump- tive aetiological agent was readily identified. PCR results for viruses were negative. For some pathogens and symbionts, the prevalence was significantly different between the adult and juvenile populations. Prevalence of diseases tended to be higher in juvenile shrimp than in adults. The results of this study indicated that L. setiferus carry a wide variety of pathogens and symbionts that seem to be endemic to penaeids of the Gulf of Mexico, and those juveniles were more conspicuous to acquire pathogens and symbionts than adults.

Durante la década de los 90´s se introdujo el camarón blanco del Pacífico Litopenaeus vannamei a los Estados costeros mexicanos del Golfo de México con fines acuícolas, por lo que desde entonces existe preocupación por la posible introducción de enfermedades que puedan afectar a las poblaciones de camarones nativos. La investigación sobre la domesticación de especies nativas para una acuacultura sustentable se ha realizado por más de 10 años, sin embargo, aún existe escasa información sobre las enfermedades que se presentan de manera natural en estas poblaciones y posible trasfaunación. El presente estudio aborda el problema de las enfermedades encontradas en subpoblaciones de jóvenes y adultos de Litopenaeus setiferus del Área natural protegida Laguna de Términos, estado de Campeche, México. Técnicas de histología y biología molecular fueron utilizadas como herramientas de diagnóstico. Se encontró que L. setiferus es portador de patógenos y simbiontes endémicos del Golfo de México, y comparativamente, los jóvenes son más susceptibles en adquirir estas infecciones que los adultos, como probable respuesta al ambiente lacustre que ocupan. No se encontró evidencia de los virus IHHNv y WSSv, aunque en trabajos más recientes en algunos Estados del Norte ya se han detectado en poblaciones silvestres.

[Distribution and abundance of fish community in the littoral area of "Los Petenes" Biosphere Reserve, Campeche, Mexico]. / Distribución y abundancia de la comunidad de peces en la porción litoral de la Reserva de la Biósfera Los Petenes, Campeche, México.

"Los Petenes" Biosphere Reserve (RBLP) is a critical habitat for many aquatic and terrestrial species. It has the biggest and better conserved seagrass beds, and it represents an important habitat for food, protection and breeding of aquatic organisms, and a temporal refuge for migratory species. The objective of this study was to describe the ichthyofauna diversity in the littoral coastal area of the RBLP, to identify the ecological dominant species, and to analyze the abundance of the fish community and its temporal and spatial changes, and their relationship with some environmental variables. Monthly fish samples were obtained with the aid of trawl nets, from 24 samplings sites distributed along the reserve, between May 2009 and April 2010. The trawl net was operated 288 times and 21 795 individuals with 279.5kg of weight were collected. A total of 46 fish species grouped in 34 genera and 23 families were identified. In a spatial scale, the abundance showed the next ranges: 0.018-0.094ind./m2; 0.249-1.072 g/m2 and 9.75-19.32g/ind.; the diversity indexes obtained were: H'n=1.46-2.15, J'=0.45-0.71 and D'=2.08-3.92. In a temporal scale, the abundance and diversity ranged between: 0.026-0.066ind./m2; 0.342-0.764g/m2 and 6.49-22.98g/ind.; H'n=1.76-2.08; J'=0.52-0.64 and D'=3.07-4.18. Eleven dominant species were identified with a representation of the 94.39% in number of individuals, and 89.66% in weight of the total catch. From the total, eight species had economic or commercial importance, especially Lagodon rhomboides and Haemulon plumierii. The cluster analyses identified four fish associations; these results are discussed in order to identify relationships between habitat-species. Finally, the canonical correspondence analysis evidenced an association between H. plumierii with salinity and dissolved solids. The RBLP has high habitat diversity and its fish community has developed strategies to use all the spatial and temporal conditions and to satisfy the needs of their life cycles.

Distribución y abundancia de la comunidad de peces en la porción litoral de la Reserva de la Biósfera Los Petenes, Campeche, México / Distribution and abundance of fish community in the littoral area of "Los Petenes" Biosphere Reserve, Campeche, Mexico

“Los Petenes” Biosphere Reserve (RBLP) is a critical habitat for many aquatic and terrestrial species. It has the biggest and better conserved seagrass beds, and it represents an important habitat for food, protection and breeding of aquatic organisms, and a temporal refuge for migratory species. The objective of this study was to describe the ichthyofauna diversity in the littoral coastal area of the RBLP, to identify the ecological dominant species, and to analyze the abundance of the fish community and its temporal and spatial changes, and their relationship with some environmental variables. Monthly fish samples were obtained with the aid of trawl nets, from 24 samplings sites distributed along the reserve, between May 2009 and April 2010. The trawl net was operated 288 times and 21 795 individuals with 279.5kg of weight were collected. A total of 46 fish species grouped in 34 genera and 23 families were identified. In a spatial scale, the abundance showed the next ranges: 0.018-0.094ind./m²; 0.249-1.072 g/m² and 9.75-19.32g/ind.; the diversity indexes obtained were: Hn=1.46-2.15, J=0.45-0.71 and D=2.08-3.92. In a temporal scale, the abundance and diversity ranged between: 0.026-0.066ind./m2; 0.342-0.764g/m² and 6.49-22.98g/ind.; Hn=1.76-2.08; J’=0.52-0.64 and D=3.07-4.18. Eleven dominant species were identified with a representation of the 94.39% in number of individuals, and 89.66% in weight of the total catch. From the total, eight species had economic or commercial importance, especially Lagodon rhomboides and Haemulon plumierii. The cluster analyses identified four fish associations; these results are discussed in order to identify relationships between habitat-species. Finally, the canonical correspondence analysis evidenced an association between H. plumierii with salinity and dissolved solids. The RBLP has high habitat diversity and its fish community has developed strategies to use all the spatial and temporal conditions and to satisfy the needs of their life cycles.

La Reserva de la Biósfera Los Petenes constituye un hábitat crítico para una gran diversidad de especies de peces, la zona de pastos marinos es utilizada con fines de alimentación, protección, crianza y refugio temporal. El objetivo es analizar la estructura espacio-temporal de la comunidad de peces y su relación con la variabilidad ambiental e identificar las especies dominantes. Se realizaron 12 muestreos mensuales en 24 sitios a partir de mayo 2009 hasta abril 2010. Se realizaron 288 arrastres, se capturó un total de 21 795 organismos con un peso total de 279.5 kg. Se identificaron 46 especies de peces (34 géneros y 23 familias). Los intervalos de variación espacial de la abundancia fueron: 0.018-0.094ind./m²; 0.249-1.072g/m² y 9.75-19.32g/ind. Los índices de diversidad fueron: Hn=1.46-2.15bits/ind., J=0.45-0.71 y D=2.08-3.92. La variación temporal de la abundancia y diversidad fue de 0.026-0.066ind./m²; 0.342-0.764g/m² y 6.49-22.98g/ind. Hn=1.76-2.08; J=0.52-0.64 y D=3.07-4.18. Se identificaron 11 especies dominantes, que representan el 94.39% en número de individuos y 89.66% en peso de la captura total. El análisis cluster permite identificar cuatro grupos de especies que se asocian a las distintas condiciones de hábitat de la reserva. El análisis de correspondencia canónica destaca la asociación de H. plumierii con la salinidad y los sólidos disueltos. La RBLP cuenta con una alta diversidad de hábitats y la comunidad de peces ha desarrollado estrategias para aprovechar todas las condiciones espaciales y temporales y así satisfacer sus necesidades en el desarrollo de sus ciclos de vida.