EVALUATION OF THE FISH ASSOCIATIONS OF THE CORAL REEFS OF THE INTERNATIONAL MARIA LA GORDA DIVING CENTER, GUANAHACABIBES NATIONAL PARK, CUBA
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.15359/revmar.1.6Keywords:
Fish associations, diversity, coral reefs, CubaAbstract
Recreational SCUBA diving on the coral reefs is one of the few activities allowed in the area managed by the Centro Internacional de Buceo María la Gorda at the Guanahacabibes National Park. The composition and structure of fish associations were evaluated on the reefs visited by users of the diving center. To assess possible seasonal changes in fish community densities and composition surveys were carried during the dry and rainy seasons. Visual censuses were carried out at eight diving sites comprising two characteristic reef biotopes. Indices for diversity, evenness, species richness, density, and fish biomass were estimated. Mean density values by sampling site did not show significant differences between seasons. A total of 134 species were recorded in the area. Fish abundances were greater in sites of higher structural complexity, matching areas of ridges on the reef slope. Prevalence of small-sized fish and a general poor presence of medium to high-sized fish were observed. Fish families with the higher densities were Pomacentridae and Labridae, and those with the higher biomass were Lutjanidae and Labridae. The trophic structure was dominated by phytophagous and omnivorous fish. Medium-sized carnivorous fish were observed, however, their densities were much lower than for the rest of the trophic groups, which could be a consequence of illegal fishing activities.
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