Abstract

A number of coastal species associated with coastal ecosystems varíes based on the structural complexity of each habitat. The beds of marine grass are found among the most complexes coastal systems. The present study allows as to determine the structure of the community of fish associated with the beds of turtlegrass (Thalassia testudinum) in the lagoon of Yalahau, for which biweekly samplings were made during the months of June and July 2001 considering the phases of New Moon and Full Moon. A total of 42 species were collected during both months in 2 zones of the ecosystem with a Renfro net. The most representative families were Syngnathidae and Haemulidae. Lagodon rhomboides represented the most dominant species in abundance as in biomass for both months (30.2 %), followed of Syngnathus floridae in Full Moon of June and Orthopristis chrysoptera in New Moon of the same month, on the other hand, Lucania parva represenst the second species dominant in both moons of the month of July. The greater number of species appear in moons of June with 28 species, whereas for the month of July a decrease 18 and 16 species is observed in Full Moon and New Moon respectively. The greater diversity was obtained in the New Moon of June whereas the evenness appeared in New Moon of July the community of fish of the beds of turtlegrass in Yalabau is very similar to the reported ones by other authors in similar ecosystems. The ecosystem of turtlegrass functions as an area of feeding, protection and raising of small and juvenile specimens of small size of species of different ecological origin. This knowledge is important to evaluate biological and ecological importance that represents the beds of turtlegrass in the lagoon of Yalabau.

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