Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate the protective effect of Xel-Ha Natural Park (Quintana Roo, Mexico) on the conservation and rehabilitation of S. gigas. The spatial and temporal abundance of queen conch in the Inlet of the Park and its evolution for the period 2004 - 2010 was analyzed. Forty surveys were conducted at three sites of Xel-Ha, using mark-recapture method. A total of 3,983 individuals were marked during the study period. We obtained a mean abundance of 250 ± 150. 2 and an average density of 0.0064 individuals/m² was calculated. During 2009 and 2010 there was a significant increase in the abundance and density in the 3 sampling sites. The shell length of n = 9,979 was analyzed and a size range from 20 mm to 270 mm, with a mean of 174.7 ± 37.47 mm was obtained. Animals were distributed heterogeneously across the three sites, according to their size. A decrease in the average length was observed in 2006, 2009, and 2010. There was a seasonal variation in the abundance of adults, with lower values in January and peaks in April. The relative abundance of adults (18.3% ± 6.39%) had a tendency to decline in the study period, decreasing sharply in 2006 and 2007. However, the total abundance of conches in the Inlet of Xel-Ha, increased four fold during the study period from 2004 to 2010, so the park is functioning as an area for the rehabilitation of this species. It was not clear if the settlement of juveniles is derived from endogenous or exogenous source. It is considered necessary to conduct studies on the supply of larvae and the dynamics of currents in the Xel-Ha Inlet.

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