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Spatial and temporal changes in the fish assemblage of a subtropical estuary in Brazil: environmental effects

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  15 December 2010

Ciro Colodetti Vilar*
Affiliation:
Núcleo de Atividades Ambientais—NATIVA, Avenida Hugo Musso, 1333, Apartomento 1106, 29101-280, Vila Velha, ES, Brazil
Henry Louis Spach
Affiliation:
Centro de Estudos do Mar, Universidade Federal do Paraná, Avenida Beira Mar s/n, Pontal do Sul, Caixa Postal 50002, 83255-000, Pontal do Paraná, PR, Brazil
Jean Christophe Joyeux
Affiliation:
Departamento de Oceanografia, Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo, Avenida F. Ferrari, 514, Goiabeiras, 29075-910, Vitória, ES, Brazil
*
Correspondence should be addressed to: C.C. Vilar, Núcleo de Atividades Ambientais—NATIVA, Avenida Hugo Musso, 1333, Apartomento 1106, 29101-280, Vila Velha, ES, Brazil email: [email protected]

Abstract

This work provides information about the fish assemblage structure along the estuarine gradient of Baía da Babitonga, south Brazil. The seasonal and spatial dynamics of fish and their relationship with physical–chemical variables were investigated. A total of 70,085 fish of 70 taxa were collected. Late larva and early juveniles of Engraulidae, Eucinostomus spp. and Mugil spp. dominated in abundance, representing 62% of all fish captured. Permutational multivariate analysis of variance identified distinct fish assemblages within the bay and during the year. The marine straggler species Harengula clupeola, Oligoplites saliens and Trachinotus carolinus and the estuarine migrant Anchoa tricolor were characteristic of the outer-most bay area, while the estuarine resident and migrant species Atherinella brasiliensis, Anchoa januaria, Sphoeroides greeleyi and Citharichthys spilopterus, and the marine migrant Diapterus rhombeus were characteristic of the inner portion of the estuary. The seasonal changes in community structure observed were mainly related to the greater abundance of T. carolinus in the warm/wet season, Micropogonias furnieri in the transition season and Oligoplites saliens in the cold/dry season. Depth, followed by salinity, explained the greater part of the variability in the abundance of dominant species and was found to be important in shaping the assemblages. Nevertheless, the amount of variation unexplained by the measured abiotic variables was relatively high (73%), suggesting the effect of additional regulatory factors. Many fish species use the shallow waters of the bay in transitory or permanent ways, and knowledge about their relationship with the environment is necessary for the success of conservation strategies for this ecosystem.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom 2010

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