Transport of Farfantepenaeus Aztecus Postlarvae in Three Lagoon-System Inlets in the Southwestern Gulf of Mexico

Abstract

This study evaluates the night-time recruitment of Farfantepenaeus aztecus postlarvae and its relation with temperature, salinity, and velocity and flow direction of the current in the artificial inlet of the Camaronera lagoon of Alvarado, Veracruz, the Soto la Marina river inlet of Tamaulipas, and the Puerto Real inlet of Términos lagoon, Campeche. Sampling was done during the night. A conical 243 μm mesh net was used for capture. The total catch of F. aztecus for the three coastal systems was 95,279 postlarvae. The average temperature was 28.23 ± 1.37 • C, salinity 23.54 ± 7.10 psu, and stream velocity 0.39 ± 0.18 m s −1 . During this study, the existence of recruitment peaks between 20:00 h and 02:00 h was established. The correlation coefficient between the density of postlarvae in the hours of sampling and environmental factors was significant (P < 0.05) in all three coastal systems. The highest density appeared when salinity was >23 psu. Recruitment is related to the influx of seawater towards the coastal systems. There was no significant difference in postlarval density (P > 0.05) between consecutive sampling cycles. RESUMENEn este estudio se evaluó el reclutamiento de las postlarvas de Farfantepenaeus aztecus y su relación con la temperatura, salinidad, velocidad y dirección de la corriente en la boca de comunicación artificial de la laguna Camaronera de Alvarado, Veracruz, la boca del río Soto la Marina, Tamaulipas y la boca de comunicación Puerto Real de la laguna de Términos, Campeche. Los muestreos se realizaron durante la noche. Para las capturas se utilizó una red cónica de 243 micras de abertura de malla. La abundancia total de F. aztecus para los tres sistemas fue de 95 279 postlarvas. El promedio de temperatura fue de 28,23 ± 1,37 • C, salinidad de 23,54 ± 7,10 ups y velocidad de corriente de 0,39 ± 0,18 m s −1 . Durante la realización de este estudio se presentaron los picos de reclutamiento entre las 20:00 h y las 02:00. El coeficiente de correlación entre 2 ) la densidad de postlarvas y los factores ambientales fue significativo (P < 0,05) en los tres sistemas costeros. La mayor densidad se registró cuando la salinidad esta por arriba de 23 ups. El reclutamiento también se relacionó con el influjo hacia los sistemas costeros. No se encontraron diferencias significativas (P > 0,05) entre los ciclos de muestreo consecutivos.

Habitat selection of the pink shrimp Farfantepenaeus paulensis and the blue crab Callinectes sapidus in an estuary in southern Brazil: influence of salinity and submerged seagrass meadows

“…The strong flow of freshwater in high rainfall years generates a physical barrier preventing the entrance of oceanic water and therefore the pink shrimp into the estuary (Möller et al, 2009;Pereira and D'Incao, 2012). The same pattern of greater post-larvae abundance related to the flow of ocean water into the adjacent coastal systems and the entry of post-larvae shrimp into the estuary can be observed for other penaeids, such as Farfantepenaeus subtilis (Pérez Farfante, 1967) and F. aztecus (Ives, 1891) (Lhomme, 1992;Cházaro-Olvera et al, 2009). The greater abundance of post-larvae in SM, evidenced by PL2 model, may be due to the proximity of this inlet to the estuary connection with the ocean and also indicate the importance of shallow inlets in the lower estuary to the arrival and settlement of pink shrimp.…”

“…The entry of these organisms into estuaries follows the patterns observed in other species of penaeids and also blue crabs from other coastal regions (D'Incao, 1991;Lhomme, 1992;Bulger et al, 1995;Epifanio, 2007;Cházaro-Olvera et al, 2009). These species are considered important the abundance of juveniles and to fisheries production (D'Incao, 1991;Costa et al, 2008;Möller et al, 2009;Pereira and D'Incao, 2012).…”

Distribution and abundance of post-larvae and juvenile pink shrimpFarfantepenaeus paulensis(Pérez Farfante, 1967) in a subtropical estuary

“…Staples (1980) observed that post-larvae of F. merguiensis moved from the substrate to the water column and migrated up the estuary by the influence of tidal flooding (of salt water). The same behaviour was observed for F. aztecus in their migration to estuaries in the Gulf of Mexico (Cházaro-Olvera et al ., 2009). It can be concluded that if conditions are favourable, and salt water entry intense, a favourable scenario is created for the migration of post-larvae into the Lagoa dos Patos estuary.…”

“…The high abundance of post-larvae, at U1–U4 and P1 and P5, indicate the importance of these sites for pink shrimp recruitment, because they may represent a nesting area for individuals of ocean origin. The search for a substrate in marginal areas of the unprotected central area (mainly represented by U2) and shallow waters in protected areas at the mouth of the estuary as soon as they enter estuaries, may represent the attempt of post-larvae to remain in this environment, thus preventing the ebb tide from carrying them back to the ocean, as demonstrated for F. merguiensis , F. aztecus and Melicertus plebejus (Young & Carpenter, 1977; Adnan et al ., 2002; Cházaro-Olvera et al ., 2009).…”

“…In the south and south-east regions of Brazil, the planktonic post-larvae of the pink shrimp Farfantepenaeus paulensis (Pérez Farfante 1967) enter these habitats carried by ocean water and develop as juveniles, following a pattern observed in other species of Farfantepenaeus . The cycle is completed when pre-adults return to the ocean, recruit to adult stock and reproduce (Garcia & Le Reste, 1981; D'Incao, 1991; Lhomme, 1992; Cházaro-Olvera et al ., 2009).…”