Abstract

The structure of reef fish communities of three sites located in the souwthern Mexican Caribbean was characterized; two sites (Boca Paila y Tampalam) are located withing and one site (Mahahual) in located outside a protected area (Biosphere Reserve “Sian Ka’an”). Based on visual censuses and geomorphological characterization of each reef, the differences in the composition of the ictyofauna between asociated groups in determined reef zones as well as between each of the sites were compared. A total of 116 species was registred highest species richness in Tampalam Reef (97 species), followed by Boca Paila (86 species) and Mahahual (73 species). Highest species diversity was found in Tampalam (H’= 3.548), followed by Mabahual (H’= 3.395) and Boca Paila (H’= 3.053); Tampalam Reef also showed the highest biomass values (444 g/m2), and they were mainly found on the lagoon zone and the crest reef. By comparing the reef we were able to draw conclusions about the effects of a possible loss of biodiversity due to differences in the management of these systems, especially concerning some important by species for fisheries. It is left to say that the creation of a protected area will, among other things, ensure reasonable fishery activities without overfishing of certain species without any control mechanims, fishery activities result in changes in species composition, in the abundance of population and in sizes of the individuals.

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