A preliminary evaluation of shallow-water rhodolith beds in Bahia Magdalena, Mexico

Abstracts

The aim of the present study was to describe the structure of shallow-water rhodolith beds from Bahia Magdalena, one of the most productive estuarine systems of the Mexican Pacific coasts. From September 2008 to May 2009 four rhodolith beds were found (between 1 and 3 m depth) and population descriptors such as rhodolith density, size classes, branch density, volume and weight were determined. The dominant rhodolith forming species was Lithophyllum margaritae. The size of beds ranged from 7,600 to 17,800 m2 approximately with densities from 42.2 to 215.9 ind.m-2. In these beds, L. margaritae shows fruticose and foliose growth forms, from which spherical forms were predominant (81-99%). Branch density (from 3.0 to 13.3 branches.cm-2) varied significantly (p < 0.05) among beds. The average volume (from 2.0 to 400 mL) and wet weight (from 32.4 to 84.8 g) was not significantly different among sites, but a significant positive correlation (r = 0.95, p < 0.05) was found between these parameters. The size of plants ranged from 2.0 to 11.5 cm with predominant size classes of 40.1-60 mm. Differences in rhodolith density, branch density and sphericity were attributed to possible differences in hydrodynamic conditions among sites. These beds were also a suitable habitat for high diversity of associated sponges. A non-metric multidimensional scaling (MDS) analysis using sponge species data revealed variability in the distribution of sponge assemblages among sites, which is likely the result of differences in environmental conditions. Although these rhodolith beds are not as extensive as those of other regions, our preliminary surveys revealed that they are a common habitat in Bahía Magdalena and likely have an important role in the productivity of this estuarine system.

Rhodolith beds; Lithophyllum margaritae; distribution; Bahia Magdalena; Baja California; México

O objetivo do presente estudo foi descrever a estrutura de bancos de rodolitos de áreas rasas da Bahia Magdalena, um dos sistemas estuarinos mais produtivos da costa pacífica mexicana. Quatro bancos de rodolitos situados entre 1 e 3m de profundidade foram avaliados em relação a densidade, classes de tamanho, densidade dos ramos, volume e peso no período de setembro de 2008 a maio de 2009. A espécie dominante no local foi Lithophyllum margaritae. O tamanho dos bancos variou de 7,600 a 17,800 m² aproximadamente, com densidades de 42.2-215.9 ind.m-2 . Foram observadas formas de crescimento fruticosa e folhosa em L. margaritae, sendo a forma esférica predominante (81-99%). A densidade dos ramos (3.0-13.3 ramos.cm-2) variou significativamente (p < 0.05) entre os bancos. O volume médio (2.0-400 ml) e o peso úmido (32.4-84.8 g) não tiveram diferenças significativas entre os locais, mas uma correlação positiva significativa (r = 0.95, p < 0.05) foi encontrada entre os parâmetros. O tamanho das plantas variou de 2.0 a 11.5 centímetros predominando o padrão entre 40.1-60 mm. As diferenças na densidade de rodolitos, densidade dos ramos e a esfericidade foram atribuídas às condições hidrodinâmicas diferenciadas nos locais. Estes bancos também foram um importante habitat para uma grande diversidade de esponjas associadas. A ordenação das amostras com o escalonamento multidimensional não-métrico (MDS) indicou grande variabilidade na distribuição das assembléias de esponjas entre os bancos, estas diferenças provavelmente são resultado de diferenças nas condições ambientais. Embora estes bancos de rodolitos não sejam tão extensos quanto os de outras regiões, nossas pesquisas preliminares revelaram que estes bancos são um habitat comum na Bahia Magdalena e provavelmente têm um papel importante na produtividade do sistema estuarino da região.

Bancos de rodolitos; Lithophyllum margaritae; distribuição; Bahia Magdalena; Baja California; México

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Publication Dates

• Publication in this collection
  03 Feb 2012
• Date of issue
  Dec 2011

History

• Received
  22 Jan 2011
• Reviewed
  30 Mar 2011
• Accepted
  09 June 2011