Nekton dynamics were studied in two contrasting habitats in Terminos Lagoon, Mexico. Over an annual cycle, a total of 83 fish species used the high-salinity fringing mangrove/Tha/assiu resfudinum habitat and biomass ranged from 0.43 to 3.43 g m-z. The highest biomass occurred during the dry season when aquatic primary production was highest (i.e. 333 g C m-z year-'). By contrast, 65 species used the freshwater and low-salinity riverine mangrove/Crassostreu virginicu/Vu/lisneriu habitat and biomass ranged from 0.57 to 1.48g m2 with the highest biomass occurring during the wet season, the time of highest primary production in this habitat (i.e. 219 g C m-* yea-'). The high-and low-salinity habitats serve as ecological bridges between freshwater areas and the sea. Fish life histories have evolved to utilize these habitats for spawning, feeding and nursery grounds in a manner which generally leads to the use of different habitats during the periods of highest primary productivity.

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