El golfo de Batabanó (GB), es la región de la plataforma marina cubana de mayor extensión e importancia pesquera. Afectaciones al hábitat de especies marinas han sido señaladas como consecuencia de factores naturales y antrópicos. El objetivo fue determinar variaciones espacio-temporales significativas en la hidrología del GB en diferentes periodos y situaciones ambientales. Para ello se analizó la variabilidad de la lluvia y la temperatura del aire en 1975-1995 y 1996-2015 periodos de baja y alta actividad ciclónica, las características termohalinas del GB anterior (1959-1970) y posterior (2006-2016) al represamiento fluvial, y el efecto de dos huracanes casi simultaneaos en 2008 (“Gustav” e “Ike”). Diferencias significativas en la variabilidad interanual de parámetros meteorológicos entre el norte y el sur del GB respondieron a características locales, y ocurrieron cambios en la distribución de los meses de máximas precipitaciones. El represamiento fluvial, sumado a déficits de precipitación en primavera, verano e invierno, provocaron aumentos termohalinos en 2006-2016, con incremento de 0,7 °C en la temperatura del agua y de 2,3 en la salinidad promedio del GB, respecto a 1959-1970. La salinidad mostró una ampliación en la distribución de valores hipersalinos, y media > 36 en meses de altas precipitaciones, con promedio general de 35,4 en 1959-1970 y 37,7 en 2006-2016, esto sugiere que el represamiento ha sido un factor principal en las variaciones de salinidad. El impacto termohalino en el GB de dos huracanes en 2008, se restableció en corto plazo, con mayor inercia en la turbidez.

Taxonomic distinction is a measure of diversity that has a number of advantages that provides relevant connotation to theoretical and applied ecology. The usefulness of this type of measure as an alternative method for assessing the biodiversity of soft-bottom benthic marine ecosystems was tested using the indices of average taxonomic distinctness (Delta+) and variation in taxonomic distinctness (Lambda+) for mollusk communities of the Gulf of Batabanó (Cuba). For this purpose, inventories of soft bottom benthic mollusk species obtained in the period 1981-1985 and the years 2004/2007 were used. Both species lists were analyzed and compared at spatial and temporal scales. The taxonomic composition, between the period 1981-1985 and years 2004 and 2007, consisted of 3 classes, 20 orders, 60 families, 137 genera and 182 species observed. With the exception of the class level, a non-significant decrease of this composition in 2004 and 2007 was detected. At a spatial scale, a significant decrease in the taxonomic richness was observed in 2004. Significant differences were not detected in Delta+ and Lambda+ to time scale, but at spatial scale, results revealed significant differences that could be attributed to the combined effect of increased anthropogenic activities in the region with hurricane induced effects. These results suggest that the pair of indices, Delta+ and Lambda+, are good descriptors of the biodiversity of soft-bottom benthic mollusk communities in the Gulf of Batabanó.

The cyclonic activity within the Gulf of Batabanó has been historically documented and, in the past two decades, it has been possible to observe signals of environmental degradation in its physical and biological state. Yet a study aimed at evaluating the effects of cyclonic activity on the taxonomic diversity of mollusks has not been made. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of cyclonic activity during 1981-1985 and 2004-2009 on the taxonomic diversity of soft-bottom mollusks of this region. To measure the cyclonic activity, the Power of Dissipation Index for hurricanes (PDI) was used. The average taxonomic distinctness index (Delta +) and the variation in the taxonomic distinctness (Lambda +) of the inventory of the mollusks species for both periods were used as a measure of taxonomic diversity. We detected high cyclonic activity (HCA) during 2004-2009 and low cyclonic activity (LCA) during 1981-1985. The taxonomic composition during both periods was made up of 3 classes, 20 orders, 68 families, 155 genus, and 208 species. Significant differences in the taxonomic composition between the two periods were detected, due principally to the loss of genus and species. The taxonomic distinctness index reveals significant changes of the taxonomic structure of mollusks during 2004-2009, which is related to a rise in cyclonic activity. These results suggest that the taxonomic diversity of mollusks was less complex during 2004-2009 than during 1981-1985.

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