Abstract

The exponential growth of the human population in the last few decades in the coastal zone has had irreversible effects on biodiversity, which has also caused disturbance and biological degradation of ecosystems adjacent to urban centers. The lagunar system of Chacmochuch, despite being located in an important tourist zone of the country, still maintains a high degree of conservation. Chacmochuch is a Natural Protected Area and of high biological productivity, and therefore has value in understanding biodiversity. The work was conducted during an annual cycle (2002) during three climatic peaks and at 10 sampling stations. We determined the bottom type, submerged vegetation, and physical variables. The objective of the investigation was to determine the structure of the ichtyofaunal community and to measure the biodiversity alfa (?), beta (?) y gamma (?) of the sites. Two way ANOVAS for each one of the variables were made. The relation between the environmental distribution of fish and variables were examined by means of an Analysis of Canonical Correspondence. A decreasing gradient of the diversity in the space scale was found towards the interior of the system. The distribution of the biodiversity was affected by a double gradient of temperature and salinity. 51 species were encountered Gerres cinereus, Floridichthys polyommus, Eugerres plumieri, Jaguana harengula, Sphyraena barracuda and Archosargus rhomboidalis were the dominant ones. 26 were euryhaline marine, 19 stenohale, and six freshwater. The system is heterogenous due to the high rate of change in species between the sites, also fundamental support for the massive tourism to reef systems in Cancún. The diversity of the species (?) depends on the local diversity (?),, but the interchange of the species between the sites and habitats (?), is the one that determines the function, both being vital for the maintenance of biodiversity. The diversity range in the lagunar system is high in relation to other similar systems of the Gulf and the Mexican Caribbean. Juveniles dominated the capture data, showing that the area is a nursery ground

PDF Preview