Abundance and diversity of macrofauna (fish and decapod crustaceans) in Penaeus vannamei culture ponds in western Mexico

• Published in: Aquaculture Vol. 143; no. 1; pp. 61 - 73
• Main Authors: Hendrickx, Michel E., Salgado-Barragán, José, Meda-Martínez, Marco Antonio
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier B.V 15.07.1996; Elsevier Sequoia S.A
• Subjects: Aquaculture; BIODIVERSIDAD; BIODIVERSITE; BIODIVERSITY; Culture ponds; Decapod crustaceans; ESPECE; ESPECIES; ESTANQUES PISCICOLAS; ETANG DE PISCICULTURE; Fish; FISH PONDS; MEXICO; MEXIQUE; PENAEUS VANNAMEI; Shellfish; SPECIES; Western Mexico; Mexico; ISE, Mexico, California Gulf; Penaeus vannamei; Decapod crustaceans; Fish; Western Mexico; Culture ponds
• ISSN: 0044-8486; 1873-5622
• DOI: 10.1016/0044-8486(95)01233-8

Polyculture involving shrimp and fish has not been developed in western Mexico. Shrimp farming along the west coast of Mexico has been estimated to occupy a total of 8000 ha, producing about 0.90 tons ha −1 in 1993. Abundance and diversity of macrofauna (fish and decapod crustaceans) associated with culture (MAC) of Penaeus vannamei were determined twice in a year, in a shrimp farm located 25 km south of Mazatlan, Sinaloa, SE Gulf of California, Mexico. A total of 4978 specimens of MAC was obtained; 2355 in June 1993 and 2623 in January 1994, totalling about 115 kg of fresh weight (0.34 to 0.87% of shrimp harvest). Fish represented 98.3% and 98.0% of specimens and 90.2–93.5% of total fresh weight; the rest were swimming crabs ( Callinectes). The abundance of Pomadasys macracanthus, Lile stolifera, and Dormitator latifrons mexicanus was high and remarkably constant at both harvests. Maximum diversity was observed in winter (January 1994). Dominance by fresh weight reflects the importance of Pomadasys macracanthus in both cycles, and of Cynoscion xanthulus in the second. Largest fish were Gobiomorus maculatus (19.0 cm total length (TL)) and Elops affinis (36.5 cm TL). When comparing sizes, fish showed either a very clear ( P. macracanthus, M. altipinnis and G. cinereus), slight ( L. stolifera and D. latifrons mexicanus) or obscure ( C. xanthulus) displacement towards higher values in the second, longer cycle. Callinectes arcuatus, the only abundant decapod crustacean harvested, also showed a remarkable stability as far as population size, fresh weight and size distribution were concerned.