Spatial-temporal variation and moon effects on estuarine ichthyofauna: evidence for the Joanes River estuary – Bahia

Abstract

Abundance, biomass, length, richness, diversity and equitability data were obtained to investigate the effect of lunar cycle and spatial-temporal variation on the ichthyofauna of the Joanes River estuary. 1,497 fish were captured, weighing 7,760g and belonging to 48 species of 22 families. The analysis of the community indicated no significant differences regarding the effects of the moon, although the waning moon was responsible for higher captures. The composition and structure of the ichthyofauna varied with the sediment type and mangrove vegetation, where more individuals and more species preferred the muddy sediment in areas with preserved marginal vegetation. Groupings based on the abundance data did not follow the temporal variations of a long period of time, but fish assemblages with similar niches in relation to the habitat use preferred certain areas according to the sediment type.

Keywords

• estuarine fishes
• moon
• spatial and temporal patterns