Abstract

The number of coastal species associated with coastal ecosystems varies based on the structural complexity and the of availability of food of each habitat. The beds of marine grass are found among fue 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 fue months of June and July 2001 considering the phases of New Moon and Full Moon. A total of 41 species were collected during both months on beds of turtlegrass with a "Renfto" neto The most representative families were Syngnatbidae and Haemulidae. Lagodon rhomboides representedthe most dominant species in abundance as in biomass for both months (30.2%), Lucania parva represented the second species dominant in both moons of the month of July. The greater number of species appear in Full Moon of June with 28 species, reduced to 26 for New Moon, 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 fue 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 ofturtlegrass 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 the biological and ecological importance that the beds of turtlegrass in the lagoon of Yalahau represent.

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