functional groups and ecological biodiversity, in

functional groups and ecological biodiversity, in

Rev. Soco Mex. Hist. Nat., 49:163-172
FUNCTIONAL GROUPS AND ECOLOGICAL
BIODIVERSITY, IN TERMINO S LAGOON,
MEXICO*
Grnpos FunciofUlies y Biodiversidad Ecológica en la
LagUfUl de Ténninos, México
A. Yáñez-Arancibia', P. Sánchez-GiI' and A.L. Lara-DomínguezJ•
ABSTRACT
An intcgratcd approach, as requircd lo comprehend the complexity of tropical coastal biodivcrsity
(374 nora specics, and 1468 macro fauna species al the study sitc) is discussed within a frarncwork of
lagoon-cstuarinc system gradients of habitats, of forciog fu"clioos (or production mechanisms). and
scasonally stable asscmblagcs of biola with similar biological bchavior and ecological strategies (or
funcJionalgroups). Thcse assemblages play ao important ecological role by coupling life-history strategics
wilh the cnvironmental variability and estuarine gradienls. The complcmentarity of planktonic and
maeroOoral primary production and their coupling with secondary produetion are also discusscd and
we conclude that scquential pulsing is one of the funclional processcs that sustain hlgh estuarinc
production and species diversity. The coneept of seasona/ programming describes how the functional
groups of estuarine primary producers interact, and how functional groups of fish population
assemblages use the lagooo hahitats in time and space [O reduce the effccts of competition and
predation, to enhance food availability and to secure their recruitment.
Ke)" words: tropical estuary, functional groups, seasonal programming.
RESUMEN
Para comprender la complejidad de la biodivcrsidad costera tropical (374 especies de flora y 1468 de
especies de macro fauna en el área de estudio) se requiere de una aproximación integral y esto debe
ser discutido en el marco de un sistema lagunar-estuarino que presenta diversos gradientes de habitats.
diferentes funciones de fuerza (o mecanismos de producción) y numerosos conjuntos bioticos
-estacionalmente estables- que tienen comportamiento biológico y estrategias ecológicas similares (o
grupos funcionales). Estos conjuntos juegan un importante papel ecol6gico vinculando las estrate­
gias del ciclo de vida con la variabilidad ambiental y los gradientes estuarinos. Complementariamente
se discute la producción planctónica y de la macro flora y su vínculo con la producción secundaria,
concluyendo que los pulsos estacionales son el proceso funcional que sostiene la alta productividad
estuarina y la diversidad de especies. El concepto de "programación estacional" descriebe como los
grupos funcionales de conjuntos de poblaciones de peces usan los hábitats lagunares-estuarinos en
tiempo y espacio para reducir los efectos de competencia y predación, favoreciendosc ante la abundante
disponibilidad de alimento y asegurando su reclutamiento.
Palabras clave: tropical, grupos funcionales, programación estacional.
• Los autores dedican este trabajo al Dr. Auslín Ayala­
2. ConsuHor en Ecosistemas Costero-Marinos A. P. 206 •
Castañares, con profundo reconocimiento por ser el pionero
Xalapa 91001 Veracruz, México.
de las ciencias marinocosteras en México.
3. Centro de Ecología, Pesquerías y Oceanografía del GolCo
l. Departamento de Recursos Costeros, Instituto de
de Mexico (EPOMEX). Uninrsidad Autónoma de Campt.-che.
Ecololo:ía A.C. Xalapa. Antigua Carretera Coatepec km 2.5,
Ap. Postal 520, Campeche 24030 Mexico.
A.P. 63, Xalapa 91000 Ver., México.
YÁ:';EZ-AR¡\.\lCIB\. A.. e SÁCIlEZ-GIL y A.L. LARA-DOlÍG¡;EZ
164
lnlroduction
Biouiversity is usually uefined at three levels, i.e.,
genetie, spceies/population. anu ecosystem (Ray and
MeCormiek, 1992). The hiouiversity 01' eoastal
environrnents is generally high in all respcets; however
information on tropicallagoon-estuarine ecosystcms
is usually no! as detaileu a< required, given the variety
01' n::sponses to cnvironrncntal changcs. lhe divcrse
spacc and time scales with which organisms ¡nterael
",ilh their habitats, anu the generallaek ofinformation
on these arcas as compared to tempeTate systems
(Longhurst and Pauly, 1987). The uiverse biological,
eeologieal anu physieal interaetions whieh oeeur
is the most conspicuous part orthe Usumacinta Del­
ta, farmcd by a river with the seoonu highest dischargl.:
in the Gulf of Mexieo after the Mississippi. The arca
is one of the warlu's best known tropical estuarics
(Yáñez-Araneibia and Day, 1988; Yáñez-Arancibia
el al. 1988, 1993a; Rojas Galavizel a/., 1992). In tcrms
of funetional eharaeterization, this area of2500 km'
can be diviueu into three regions (Fig. 1). foHowing
Kjerfve (1989,1993) anu Yáñez-Arancibia (1987),
as follows:
l)A (idal riJ'er Wne. Ruvial-dcltaic zone charactcrizcd
by lack oC ocean salinity, but subject to tidal risc
and [aH ofwater leve!;
within tropical cstuaries and lhe adjacent oecan
2) A mixing zone. Charactcrized by water mass mixing
produce a highly dynamie anu variable mosaic 01'
anu existenee of strong gradients of physical.
eCllsystems (Yáñez-Araneibia el al., 1991).
chemical and biotic fcatures, and rcaching from
From an ecological stanupoint. the term biodiversity
can have several meanings when applieu to tropical
the lidal river zone to the seawaru location ofriver
mouth bar or ebb-tidal delta;
lagoon-cstuarinc ccosystems (Day and Yáñcz­
3) A near sllore tllrbid zone. In the near-shore oecan,
Araneibia. 1982). It can mean that there is a high
bctwcen the mixing zone and the seaward euge of
diversity 01' speeies, or that there is a high uiversily 01'
the tiual plume al full ebb tide.
cnvironrncntal factors, habitats. connections in lhe
foou webs. anu a high uiversity 01' eouplings, both
internally ano with neighhoring systcms. AIso lhe
diversity 01' foreing fllnelions effeetively modulating
eCllsystem funetioning is high, anu inelude winu, tiue,
rivers tlows, ¡ittoral currcnts, scdiment input, and
others. Moreover there is a high uiversity among
This subdivision oC Terminos Lagoon diffcrs from
those previously proposed in thal it recognizcs and
includes nearshore marine eomponents that arc
cstuarine in eharacter. and implicitly considcrs the
five main habitats in the s)'stem as a wholc, deSlTibcd.
by Yáñez-Araneibia anu Day (1982).
primaty producers and consumers, manywith different
typcs oflife history. Grassle el al. (1991) anu Lasserre
(1992) pointeu out that large-seale experiments are
neeued on whole system responses anu on earcfuHy
seleeteu tropical sites in oruer to identify a new
paradigm for understanding coastal-marine diversity.
More information is neeucd on tropical estuarics for
lheir complexity anu biodiversity to be unuerstood.
Habitat diversily
The semi-pcrrnanent grauients from the tiual wetlands
to the estuarine plume on the inner shelf anu aujaeen!
sea leads to the identification of scven main habitats
in the study area, as oiscusscd by Yáñcz-Arancihia
and Day (1988) and summarizeu in Figure 1:
Thus, in this paper, we foeus on the funelional
71fejlw'iaJ.JelJaic sy!J1ems in the southern tittaral zone
bimliversity of thcse ecosystems, and describe the
divcrsity offorcing functions; using the habitats and
the seasonality of funetional groups, i.e., primary
of Terminos Lagoon have very Inw salinity. high
producen> and consumers, in Terminos lagoon, as
rnangrove forests. and in some arcas of c1car walcr,
example (se e Fig. 1).
turbiuity, high nutrient eoneentrations, silty-c1ay
sediments, Crassostrea drginica recfs, rivcrinc
subrnergcd fresh water vegetation. Tllecentral basin,
which is the transition zone bctwecn marine
The lagoon-esluarine system
conditions and the zonc intluenccd by the rivers. i
characterizcd by mcsohalinc salinity, medium walcr
Terminos Lagoon is loeateu in the sOllthern GlIlf of
transparene)'. silty-clay to sanuy seuiments and a
Mexico at 18" N, were tropical elimatie eonuitions
typieal estuarine phytoplankton produetion syslem
occur: a rainy season from June lO September, winter
storms ("nortes") from Oetober lo February, and a
ury season, from February lo May. Terminos Lagoon
lOlIe aJ El Canllelllslalld. is uominateu by 1Jwlassia
inellluing sorne benthie macroalgae. nI< inller lit/oral
te,ftudinul1l ano fringe rnangrove habitat with ncar
ECOLOGICAL FüCTIOAL GROLJI'S.
el­
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TERMINOS LAGOON
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Fiure 1. lIabitat dhersity in the estuarine ecosyslem uf Terminos l.agoon (ahuve) and the adjacenl Campeche Snund
(bt-Iow), showing the dilTerenl habitats (or ecolugical subsystems). The inner shelf shows Zunes A and B. associaled wilh El
Carmen and Puerto Real inlels respecth.ely. The laoon.cstuarine system consists of 'he maio hahitals relaled lo l\ater
circulation. rh'er dischal)!:c, salinit)' and water depth. (After Yáñcz.Arancibia and Dn,..• 1988).
marine salinity, high waler lransparency, sanoy
clear waler 01' full salinity, ealcium carbonate sano
sedimenls and a high diversily 01' bOlh benlhie and
sedirncnts, ano with seagrass bcds ano malToalgae.
nektonic consurncrs. 71le Puet10 Real In/el, whcre there
is a nel flow 01' Gulf waler inlo lhe lagoon, is
characterized by calciurn carbonate sediments, c1car
watcrs ano cxtcnsive scagrass beds. El Carmen In/el,
lhe esluarine conneelion wilh the shelf, has a nel
transport from the lagoon to the oecan, producing an
cxtensive estuarine plumc of meoiurn salinityon the
shclf. There are silty-clay sediments ano highly turbio
waters without submcrgcd vcgetation in this arca.
In Campeche Souno aojaeent lo "'orminos Lagoon,
thcrc is a lerrigellolls subs)'slem (7..one A) strongly
influcnecd by cstuarinc watcrs with rncúium water
transparency, no benthievegelation and wilh a high
Divcrsily uf furcing funclions
Wilhin lhe physical framework provideo by the
wetlands, lhe lagoon-cstuarine cnvironment anO the
continental shclf; the living rcsaurces maintain a
complex biological organization in thc stuoy arl:a.
Figure 2 illustrates the complcxily 01' lhe SystClll
(which couples the fish resourees wilh the coaslal
ecologieal processes) ano lhe biological proouelion
mechanisrns (i.c., the forcing functions modulating
thc structurc and functioning of lhe ccosystcm).
ennlenl 01' organic maller in lhe silly-clay-sandy
Functionally. fish rcsaUTces are rclated lo ecological
scoimcnts; and a calcareOllS subS)'stem (lime B) with
interactions in thc coastal zanc, anu changes in fish
166
YA:':EZ-ARAXClRlA. A .. P. SAI'CIIEZ-GIL y AL LARA-DOlíI'GUEZ
rcsourccs in spacc and time are rcflection of the natu­
Figure 2 show how these faclors inleraello support
ral variabilily of physical and biological processes in
lhe various groups forming lhe basis of fisheries in the
lhal lOne. However, ehanges within lhe high diversily
region, in a highly dynamic interactivc systcm in
eeosyslem are generally dimeult lo predi el, beeause
various lime/spaee scales. The block of small pclagic
of lhe large number of inleraeling groups (e.g.,
fishes includes sardines (C1upcidae) and anehovies
eompclilion, predalion). Slill, quanlilalive models of
aspeels of lhe resouree systems can be conslrueted,
e.g., for managing lhe coastal fisheries relying on the
fish resourcc base (Arreguín-Sánehez el al., 1992).
The mosl eonspicuous faelors (or foreing funclions
(Engraulidae). The lop predator block comprises
sharks, dogfish, grunls (Pomadasyidae), snooks
(Centropomidae), groupcrs (Serranidae) and snappcrs
(Lutjanidae). The small demersal fish block ( < 15 cm)
is comprised offlatfish (Soleidae, Bolhidae), silver
pcreh (Gerreidae), and scorpion fish (Scorpcnidae).
in lerms of lhis paper) affeeling fishery production,
The medium-sizcd demersal fish block (between 15-25
are: 1) physical/chcmical conditions in the water
cm) includes gilt heads and yellow jacks (Carangidae).
columo Le., transparency. nutrients, salinity,
eroakers (Sciaenidae), porgies (Sparidae), puffers
tempcralure, 2) lalilude, 3) balhymelry and sedimenl
(Telraodonlidae), sea robins (Triglidae) and olhers.
lypcS, 4) meleorology and clima te, 5) river discharge,
The large demersal fish block (>25 cm) includos
6) lidal range, 7) lhe area of coaslal vegelalion i.e.,
among Olhers, ribbon fish (Triehiuridae). rays
marshes, swamps, lagoons and estuaries, and 8) lhe
(Dasyalidae), seaeatfish (Ariidae). lizard fish
intcractions bctwcen the estuaries and the sea.
(Synodonlidae), croakers (Sciaenidae) and olhers.
Fisheries, Coast Zone
25
26287
Southern Gulf of Mexico
(
0.30 to 8.30
Primal)' Production I md ell.a rr.-'
eSluanne-lagoo
> 3.6 km hol
oo Iy d-' t'
8
-0.050-1 10 + 0.0892 m
Figure 2. There ¡s 11 high dinrsil)' or species. habita., rorcing runclion. and inlereonneclion in eoasla) systcms, such as
Tcrminos Lagoon which is iIIuslrated here. The diaJ:ram show lhe dh'ersily or fishery groups (squares), and thtir
intcrrelalionship with eoasta! and biological processes, and produetion mechanisms, (rorcing funclion, indicaled bJ circlesl
in Ihe lo,,"er parl (Ir Ihe diagram. The eatehes are in metrie tan s per year. Values af lisheries ealeh are giHn in lons/year and
lhe sum of the nows in A,B, and e is 3 x 1()J lonsl)"ear. (Arter lOC-UNESCO, 198).
ECOLOGICAL FU!'ICTIO:--lAL GROLPS.
Species diversity
Because of ilS high biologieal diversity, in lerms of
bOlh habilals and speeies, Terminos Lagoon is al
presenl being proposed to become an "ecologically
167
2) lhe eenlral basin wilh salinity ranges from 10 lo 25
%0, and where phyloplanklon are lhe dominant
primary producers;
3) shallow intertidal and sublidal zones wilh high
proleeted coastal ecosyslem" under lhe framework of
marine intluence (> 25 %0) dominaled by fringing
lhe Mexican "Federal Lawfor Ecolagical Equilibrium
mangroves and submcrged seagras.."i beds.
ami £1l1,'irOnmenla/ Prolection", (Y áñez-Arancibia el
al., 1993b). Resulls oflhe lasl20years ofresearch on
ilS valuable wildlife resources led to lhe informalion
summarized as follow. The lisl of lolal speeies is
induded in lhe above ciled report, consislof374 plant
species (of which 3 are endangered and 64 are
endemics), and 1468 species ofmacrofauna (ofwhich
510 are inverlebrales and 958 are verlebrales). From
lhe land verlebrales, 67 species are endangered, 30
are endemics, 22 are under proteetion and have
cconomic valuc.
These regions includes lhe habilals in Figure 1. Eaeh
of these is dominaled by specifie primary producers
forming funelional groups. The importanee of these
groups is thal they represent a food source for
cstuarine and coastal consurners, bcsidl:s acting, as
the case might be, as a critical habitats ror a grcat
number of organisms during various life stagcs, and
regulating importanl components of lhe eSluarine
ehemical cycles (Odum, 1988; Day el al., 1989; Ro­
jasGalavizetal.,1992).
Figure 3 shows lhe clear seasonality of lhe pulses of
abundanee and produetivily of differenl primary
Diversity of functional groups and
seasonality
produeers funelional groups. Primary praduetion is
generally high during all year, bul each funelional
group has a differenl seasonal panem, in relalion 10
Termine" Lagoon has a number of imporlanl functional
the environmcntal parameters specific to cach
groups, bOlh of primary and sccondary producers (or
gradient. The main productivity peak of mangrovcs
consurncrs). A fimctional group is a conspicuous
oceurs during the rainy season and may he related to
assemblage ofbiola with similar biologieal behavior
freshwaler inpuI (nulriems and lowered salinity). For
and ecological slrategies. These assemblages, whieh
submerged grasses, the highesl biomass and
contain a numbcr uf diffcrcnt spccies and are
produetivity generally occur during lhe dry season,
characteristic elements in the structurc ano
while the lowcst biomass valucs occur during the rainy
functioning of lhe eeosyslem play an important
and "nartes" seasons. Both marine and frcshwatcr
ecological role by lhe coupling life-history slralegies
grasses slarllhcir produelivity pulse allhe end of lhe
of their consliluenl species wilh lhe environmenlal
"nortes". Maximal produetivily of freshwaler
variability and eSluarine gradienls.
macrophytes oceur in February and slowly declines
during lhe dry and rainy seasons, while peak seagrass
biomass and productivity occur during lhe dry season
FunClioning o/primary produurs
The main eeological role of primary producers is to
provide food via pholosynlhesis. In tropical estuarine
and lagoon syslems, sorne primary producers also
provide imporlanl crilical habilats: mangrove swamps,
submerged grass beds. The diversity of fllnclional
groups of primary producers can be high in esluarine
ecosystems (Rojas Galaviz el al., 1992). Salinity
gradicnts, turbidity, scdirncnts, nutricnts, ami tidal
range, controllhe distribulion of primary producers,
(Mareh-May). Phyloplanklon produclivily and
biomass in the mid-lagoon has a scasonal pattcrn
opposile thal of lhe aqualie macrophyles. PlanklOnic
primary produclivity and ehlorophyll a levels increase
lhrough lhe rainy season, reaehing a peak during lhe
beginning oflhe "nortes" season from September unlil
Dcccmbcr. Aquatic primary productivity in mangrove
borde red lidal ehannels is highesl during lhe dry
season Dayetal. (1982,1988 a, b) showed lhaldissolved
organic matter exported from mangrove stimulated
in the three aboye mentionncd regioos a follows:
aqualie primary produetivity.
1) lidal freshwater della arcas wilh riverine mangrove
Thesc results suggesllhal high year-round produetion
swamps, submerged freshwaler aqualievegelalion,
and fresh waler marshes. In lhis areas, organie
carbon in river input providcs an important
addilional food souree;
in Terminos Lagoon is maintained by sequemial pul­
ses of different primary producers, lhis seasonal
programming being one of lhe funclional processes
su.slaining high estuarine produclion.
Y'\:';EZ-AHA:-:CIBL\, A, I sÁ:-:Cm:Z-GIL y A.L. LAHA-DOMí"lGU:Z
168
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Fi¡;un.' 3. Sellsonal patterns uf pl"imary production and p1ant hionmss uf the dilTcrent functional groups of primal)' produ(cr
in Tcrminos La¡;oon. The illustration ahove the graph are common rt'presentuth"cs of dilTcrcnt primary producer J.:rollp (1cft
to riJ,(ht) hlack (Av;cenn;a germ;nans), and red (Rhizophora manxle) mangroves; t\-\-'o genera of diatoms (Chaelocero.. Skelelonema),
an imporlant ropus of cstuarine phytoplankton; Iwn spl'cies of fresh\-\-'ater suhmered aquatic "'cctation, Já1li.fneria aml'ricana
and Cabomha palaeformü; and the dominant marine s('arass of the 1a()on. ThalaS.\'ia lesludinum. The decrease uf salinil)
(helo\-\-') durin the rlliny and "norte s" seasons corrcsponds to the perilld uf hih riHr no\-\-'. And high input uf riH'r hurne
orJ,(anic matter (From Rojas Galaviz el al., 1992).
FU1lc/i01li1lg O/macro-l'oflsumers
The primary produeers diseussed above and tbe
dynamics of the ecologieal systcrn surnmarized in
earlier scctions, sustain a high diversity of nektonic
speeies. There are clear fish-habital relationships and
a sequential use of the gradients in various time/spacc
seales (Yáñez-Arancibia and 11ra-Domínguez, 1988;
Y,íñez-Araneibia el al., 1988, 1993a).
More Ihan ISO fish speeies in different funelional
groups occur in Terminos Lagoon (Yáñez-Araneibia
el al., 1980) and Ihere arc morc than 250 spccies in
Cifferent funetional groups from Campcehc Sound,
i.c., the adjaecnt continental shelf (Yáñez-Araneihia
el al., 1985; Sánehez-Gil and Yáñcz-Arancibia, 1986).
The widesprcad use of estuaries hy larvae and juveni­
les of so many speeies has Ict 10 thc coneept of
Sound hahitats for refuge, reproduetion, fceding,
recruitment, nurse!)', and growth for a numbl:r of
enastal fishes. In this papcr we consider recruill1u:1ll
as tlle key factor that scparatcs thc "estuarinc­
dependent" from "cstuarine-related" (or cstuarinc
opportunistic) lish specics. For cxamplc, for estuarine.
dcpcndent spceics, juvcnile habitats arc spatially
scparate and struetural\y ditlerCnI from thc habitat 01
thc adults and the early the stagcs (eggs and laryae).
Fish asscmblagcs or flme/lonal grollfJs are very
important in maintaining the structure and functioning
of eonsumcrs. At Ieast three groups 01 fishes o<:<:ur in
the lagoon-estuarine system (Fig. 4) as diseussed by
Pauly and Yáñcz-Araneihía (1993):
1) Reside1lt species: Those which spend thcir cntirc
lifc l)'cle within the systcm;
"cstuarine dependencc", implying that the estuary is
2) Seasolla/ migraflls: Those whieh entcr the lagoon
required for somc part of the life cycle of thcsc
during a morc or Iess wcl\-dclined scason (from
organisms, Thcrc is consistcnt cvidcnec of thc
cithcr the marinc or thc frcshwater side) and leave
eeologieal valuc ofTcrminos Lagoon and Campcehc
it duringanother scason;
ECOLOGICAL FCCTIOAL GROCPS.
169
3) Occasional 'isitors: Those which cntcr and Icave
on the habitats inside the system. Here, the rciativc
the systcm without c1car pattero within and among
level of rccruitrncnt ioto the lagoon-cstuarint.: s)'stcm
is determined locally by the ease with whieh fish can
years;
sequenfially use the habitats, and between years, hy
To Ihesc, two othcr groups maybe added:
the over1I number of potential remJiIs along Ihe mas!.
).Itarine. estlliJrine-reÚl/eJ speci£s. Thosc which spcnd
Ihcir entire life c)'de on the inncr sea shelf under
the estuarinc plurnc ¡ntluence; and
For the eoastal fish, randomly spawning on the shell'
aojacent to the lagoon-cstuarine systm and Icltiog
the juveniles find their way ioto the lagoon would be
5) Fresh water, estuarine.related species. Those which
ineffieieot (Yáñez-Araneibia el al., 1993e). RaIher,
spcnd Iheir entire life c)'de in Ihe fluvial-deltaic
seasonal variations of abiotic pararnctcrs. scasonal
rivcrinc zonc, associatcd with thc upper zone of
the estuarinc system.
One meehanism whieh allows high standing stock to
be maintained in the lagoon-cstuarine ecosystcm is
small-scak bctween-habitat migration. The funetional
groupwhieh mainly exists in the fluvial-deltaie riverine
ehangcs of primary prnduetion and of eompclitors
must be accommndated, and this is whaI Ieads to the
phenorncnon labclcd ht:re as "seasonal prograrnrning"
(of eonsumers) which refers to the temporal and
spatial scquence oflagoon-habitats used by juveniles
and preadult fishes (Fig. 5). Fish migration also allows
optimum utilization of prirnary production we havc
zone of the estuary (Fig.) utilizcs the estuarine system
found that fish tend tovisit diffcTent habiIats during
mainly as a feeding and nursery ground. This pallero
periods of peak primary produetion (as sho\V in Fig.
is similar for lhe funetional group in lhe inncr shelf.
3). This ensures high food availability "nd Ihus high
'\be reemitment of these functional groups depend
fish growth rates.
'UH(;TIONAL GROUPS
"
Marln •• "luMin... laI-.cI sp.cin
...
.
$y..,/um flutlfffl
A
UPMVu
5p_nlnll
"""""
z
li.
Truhuru ytJwmi
S"_I c¥"inu
OCcilJlonill Vi.llor.
c::>
E
Archo...ll'US rhombold.Jil
Orthoprlril chrylOP'HiI
HililmuIon iluroNfMilwm
,'J
A .. id.nl.ptIci ••
lIIJIII!IIn>-
SMrdie/lil chrysowil
8i1Írd,.¡y ronchu
A"",",
".sllwat.' ... lua.;n .....UUd .p.t<i...
ft
•
8
.
o
•
i
•
•
."..
...
'....;0..
1
yo.......
DorOI_.
Ck¡'¿'l......, '_,fTiI"""
\;:
,.",twNiI s¡WndI<b
s._rr" m"ll'''ts
8"ll'ft-v..1
eyr,olCIo<> ...........s
s,..,., lanceoJ.alus
C_lJt""" f'dennn'ul
S"i"9
adutts
...,1 !lilbitets
fudnor- g<.Q
lildults. dry susonl
Anus ,"s
lildults. _ "ilIOn)
fiJ;:ure 4. DisJ:ramstic represenlalion of fundional groups 01 Ilshes "'"llh characleríslic migralion pallerns and hahitat
utililalion ","ithin. oulside of. and inlo and oul of Terminos Laoon. The funclional roups are defined in (he lexl (Front IJaul)'
and Yáñez.Arancihia. 1993).
YASEZ-AR:\:\'CIBIA, A.. P. &\:'\CHEZ-GIL y A.L. LARA-DO\líi\GUEZ
170
100
Diapterus rhombeus
SO
O
.-
Sphoeroides testudineus
100
SO
O
100
SO
O
DiO
100L
SO
O
'">
Bairdiella ehrysoura
=
Jl
==....._
Anchoa mitehil/i
_===CL===
100
'"
=
Petenia sp/endida
SO
'"
U
l:
lO
O
"C
l:
eieh/asoma urophtha/mus
il 100
«
SO
O
Eueinostomus gula
100
SO
O
s
Arius me/anopus
100 [
SO
r=J=
O
I
[l
SO
1
J
F
M
A
M
J
JASOND
Monlhs
Figure 5. Scusunalil)' of ahundance of eighl dominant lish species in T... nninos Lagoon. These fishes show a c1e:tf se;lsnnal
S('(jUl'nt:c uf nbundancf' and habitat utilizalion, t:allcd herc "s("asona¡ proramming". The sum of the rclalhc ahundance u(
(hese .. pecit.", (Iuwcr J.:raph) sUAAesl 3n neo ulilizalion of (he IUJ.:oon.estuarine s)"stem throughoul the )'('ar. Afler Yáñel'
Arandhia el al. (l993c).
i
AII speeies
100
o
I
1
f
I
E
n
ECOLOGICAL FL:"CTIO:"AL GROLPS.
Synthcsis
Tropical coastal ccosystcms havc maintaincd
Ihemselves over very long periods. The specifie
location of the <""035t has changcd a" sea leve) rose and
fell, but Ihe eeosystems have a long conlinuity. This
171
Day,.Ir" .I.W. and A, Yáñez-Amncihia. 1982. Coastal
lagoons amI cstuarics: ccosystcm approach. Ciencia
Illteramericalla Washington DC, 22( 1-2): 11-25.
Day, .Ir".I. \\é, R, H, Day, M, T, lIarreirn, F. Le)'-Lou
and e..I. Madden, 1982, Primary produclion in the
has allowcd the cvaluation of rncchanisms which
L.1b'Una de Terminas, a tropical estuar)' in the Southern
stabilizc amI refine such seasonal prograrnming,
Gulf of Mcxieo. Coastal Lagoons. l Lasserre and Ir.
making the fish populalions gradually more
Postma. (Eds). Oceall%gica Acta Vol. Spee.
"depende nI" on the lagoon s)'stem for the maintenancc
5(4):462 p.
of high biomass and sccondary production.
\Ve believe that understanding biodiversity from 'In
ecological point of view, e.g. the funetional role of
estuarine gradients and hahitats, willlead to a belter
understanding of tropical coastal zones and is indeed
the basis of their sustainahle devclopment. Along
tropical coasls, only holistic habitat managcrncnt
approaches appcar to he adequate (Fones, 1991;
Buttriek, 1992; Ray, 1991). The approaeh for
intcrrclating resourccs flows, socioeconomic
intcractions and habitat gradicnts on traosect of
mast1ines proposed hy Pauly and Lighlfoot (1992)
may also contrihutc lo this.
Day, .Ir"J,'y', W.ll. Conner, E Ley-Lou, R.H, (Ja) and
A_ Machado Na,'arro, 1987. The produclivity and
eomposition uf mangrovc forcsts, Laguna dc
Terminos, Mexico.Aq/latic BOlaIlJ, 27: 267-284.
Day, .Ir., .I.,y., e..I, Madden, E Ley-Lou, R.L. WCI1e1
and
A,
Machado,
1988a.
Aquatie
primary
productivity in the Terminos Lagoon. In Yáñcz
Araneibia, and J.W. Day (Eds.) Ec%,'Y 01 cou.wal
ecmystems in Ihe sou/hem GlI/f01Afexico: Ihe '1eJ1lli"os
Lagoon regioll, p. 221-236. UNAM Press México, D.!'
Da)', .Ir".I.W., W,H. Conner, R, 11, Day, E Le)-lAIlJ, and
A.Machado. 1988b. Produetivity and composilion 01'
mangrovc forest al Boca Chica and Estero Pargo. ln
Yáñez-Arancihia, A and J.w. Day (eds.), Ecu/ol-. oI
Acknowlcdgrncnts
\Ve acknowlcdgc Prof. P. Lasserre, France, amI Praf.
Sean \V Nixon, USA for inviting us to participatc in
the lntcrnational Workshop on Ecosystcm Funelioll
oC Marine Biodiversity in Estuarics, Lagoons and
Near-Shore Coastal EeOS}lemS, he Id in Guaddoupe
from Mareh 1410 19, 1993. We also acknowledge the
supporl provided by lhe IUllS-SCOPE-UNESCO
Programme on Biodiversity, the hOSI facilities ofthe
eoas/al ecos)'stems in tire sowhem Gul!of,\ferico: lhe
Tenllillo" Laliooll regioll, p. 237-257. UNAM Press
Mexien, D.E
I>ay .Ir" .I"y., e.A.S.Hall, W.t. Kemp and A. Yáñe1­
Arancibia, 1989, ütllarine Ec%gy. Jolm Wiley &
Sons,lne.
Fortcs, M.O. 1991. Seagrass-mangrovc eeosystcms
management: a key to marine eoastal conscrvation in
thc ASEAN Region. Marille ['ol/lItion /J/ll/etin, 23: 113­
Universite des AntiBes et de la Guyane, Dr. Danid
116.
Pauly (ICLARM) and Dr. Jnhn W. Day for many
Grassle. J.F.. P. Lasscrrc, A.D.. l\Ic1nt}Tt.' and G.C.
helpful enmments on the paper. CONACYT from
Ra}'. 1991. Marine hiodi"crsity andccu"lysH:m fUllction.
Mexico (Projcet 1'467-19190) also provided lravel
A proposal for an international program of rcsean.:h.
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Kjerf,'e, B ..I. 1989. Estuarine geomorphology and
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WM. Kemp and A Yáñez-Araneihia (Eds.), E.'t/lllline
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