Flow of species and spatial continuity biological processes between geographically separated areas may be achieved using management tools known as Ecological Corridors (EC). In this paper we propose an EC composed three highly threatened coral reef systems in the Southwest Gulf Mexico: Sistema Arrecifal Lobos Tuxpan, Veracruzano Arrecifes de los Tuxtlas. The proposed is supported by concept Marine Protected Areas Networks, which highlights biogeographical habitat heterogeneity...

Introductions of nonnative species are known to negatively impact coral reef ecosystems. The planktivorous Indo-Pacific damselfish Neopomacentrus cyanomos has spread throughout the Gulf Mexico (GoM) over past decade. However, its population dynamics and potential adverse effects on native reef-fish communities have not been assessed. Here, we examined temporal change in occurrence, density, social-group size N. reefs southern GoM assessed possible by (i) modeling occurrence densities...

ABSTRACT Behavioural and acoustic plasticity allow cetaceans to exploit a variety of habitats developing strategies overcome increasingly demanding anthropogenic pressures. Bottlenose dolphins are known compete with artisanal fishing along the southwestern coast Gulf Mexico, but extent marine traffic impacts on species is unknown. We investigated dolphin behavioural dynamics through unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) recordings in two zones off Alvarado, Veracruz, high (HVP) low‐vessel presence...

The importance of coral reefs (CR) within marine ecosystems has become widely recognized. Although shallow CR are not as abundant in the Gulf Mexico (GoM) other areas such Caribbean, their uniqueness, singularity, isolation and conservation status make highly important. Corals CR, both deep, more distributed throughout GoM than previously thought, providing new venues research but also challenges for sustainable management. They present three countries circumscribing (Cuba, United States)....

Carbon and nitrogen stable isotopes fatty acids (FAs) revealed primary producer organic carbon sources that fuel a coral reef food web with river influence. A isotope mixing model was used to assess the relative contribution of six different producers nine most ubiquitous invertebrate fish consumer's bulk carbon. Mangrove phytoplankton were difficult differentiate in some consumers; likely solutions involved one or other but not both at same time. FA concentration upper trophic levels...

Cayo Arcas is a small, offshore reef complex on the southwest corner of Campeche Bank, Gulf Mexico. The only published information (from 2000) fishes that refers to 37 species. Here additional added, some from unpublished observations during 1980s, as well author made 2013 and 2016. These bring checklist reef's up 162 possible effects limited number fish habitats available at composition its fauna are discussed. Indo-Pacific damselfish Neopomacentrus cyanomos (Bleeker, 1856) was first...

Many rocky reefs exist in the Gulf of California; however, there are few studies on fish communities that inhabit them. In present work, these evaluated through visual censuses at four sites southwestem coast gulf. The specifíc richness, frequency, evenness and diversity were analyzed each site. Seasonal changes differences among studied also analyzed. A total 76 species was registered. Five most abundant zones during greater part study: Stegastes spp., Thalassoma lucasanum, Abudefduf...

Se presenta una lista taxonómica de la composición ictiofauna del Sistema Arrecifal Veracruzano.El inventario es resultado los censos visuales realizados en el sistema arrecifal durante periodo 2006 - 2011, elcual se complementó con las especies previamente registradas literatura y aquellas que encuentrandepositadas colecciones referencia. La incluye 387 especies, 206 géneros, 92 familias 23 órdenes. Tresespecies son nuevos registros para litoral mexicano golfo México: Amphelikturus...

Morphologically, the digestive tracts of king angelfish Holacunthus passer and Cortes Pomacanthus zonipectus are similar, yet intestine is almost 30% longer than that angelfish. Both pomacanthids have a small mouth with villiform teeth, short oesophagus, well‐defined stomach, terminal sac at end tract. The sac, acid pH in long may facilitate efficient use seaweed nutrients. Stomach contents were analysed to determine diets interspecific overlap. Seventy‐one species found stomachs 53 Because...

Abstract Based on four published mass-balanced ecosystem models from coastal zones, we studied the relationships of stability to some characteristics in ecosystems. Three attributes stability, persistence, magnitude changes biomass and resilience, were analyzed using ecopath ecosim software. For each model, five versions obtained by randomly modifying connectance change complexity. Simulation experiments performed over 60 years then quantified. We found complexity was not closely related...

Incorporating expert knowledge for development spatialmodeling in assessing ecosystem services provided by coral reefs: A tool

The Parque Nacional Sistema Arrecifal Veracruzano (hereafter called PNSAV) is the largest coral reef extension in central region of Gulf Mexico. These reefs are unique since they have developed near a coastal environment that directly influenced by discharges Veracruz city, rivers located on continental shelf, and port Veracruz. This study evaluates functional diversity, terms richness, evenness, divergence, PNSAV fish community. We were interested quantifying any similarities or differences...

Coral reefs are the most biodiverse ecosystems on earth and presently experiencing severe declines globally. Shallow coral reef (<30 m) have been studied extensively while mesophotic (MCE) poorly studied. As a result, MCE rarely included in marine reserve design management, despite their ecological importance connectivity to shallow reefs. In this study, we assessed fine-scale topographic complexity, proxy for structural group of coastal park southwestern Gulf Mexico, depths between 2...

Data on marine and brackish-water fishes recorded in the area of Parque Nacional Sistema Arrecifal Veracruzano southwest Gulf Mexico were extracted from online aggregators georeferenced location records, recent ichthyological literature reviewed, collections observations made to provide a more complete faunal inventory for that park. Those actions added 95 species comprehensive published 2013, brought total 472 species, an increase 22%. Seventy-four percent additions came which clearly...

Seagrasses in coastal environments have been threatened by increased human activities; these negatively altered processes and environmental services, decreased grassland areas. The aim of this study was to generate knowledge Thalassia testudinum distribution, state the structure fragmentation level two reefs Veracruz Reef System National Park (PNSAV). Two different were selected: Sacrificios North near coast, Cabezo South away from coast. Shoot-specific area-specific characteristics...

Colonies of coral with morphology similar to that Oculina patagonica de Angelis, 1908 were found in the National Park Veracruz Reef System (NPVRS) along coast Veracruz, Mexico southern Gulf Mexico. The identity these colonies as O. was confirmed by morphological and molecular analyses. Here, we document first records This species is native Mediterranean Sea, could have been accidentally introduced through ballast water from ships. In NPVRS, poor environmental conditions such polluted waters...