|
Abstract
THE RICH ICHTHYOFAUNAL DIVERSITY WITHIN
THE MANGAL OF THE BELIZE OFFSHORE CAYS
D. Scott Taylor1, Eric A. Reyier2, Carole
C. McIvor3, and William. P. Davis4
1Brevard County
2Dynamac Corporation
3U.S. Geological Survey
4Environmental Protection Agency
Bio
We assessed ichthyofaunal diversity within offshore mangrove cays
in Belize during three, two-week surveys (2003, 2004, 2005). Nine
sampling gears were deployed in pre-defined micro-habitats: fringe,
transition, dwarf red mangrove, internal creeks, ponds, and sinkholes.
Water quality data (temperature, salinity, DO) were taken during
most collections. A total of 2,586 gear sets was completed and 8,131
individuals collected, comprising 75 taxa. Minnow trap data from
the various micro-habitats tested indicates some overlap in assemblages.
Significant differences in water quality were also noted, with the
fringe presenting the best conditions and sinkhole the worst. We
also conducted extensive visual surveys around the fringe at a number
of cays, tallying an additional 67 taxa. The fringe is the most
diverse (128 taxa) and sinkhole least (12 species). An overall total
of 142 taxa from 55 families has therefore been documented from
the cays, and all but eight were found on Twin Cays alone. This
figure is among the highest reported for oceanic mangroves in this
biogeographic realm. Our comprehensive approach with a variety of
gear-types in a wide range of micro-habitats, combined with visual
observation, lends credence to the conclusion that most ichthyological
species inventories for the mangal are commonly underestimates.
|
