Trophic dynamics and properties of the marine ecosystem of Campeche Bank, Mexico

Abstract

Campeche Bank located in the Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico is characterized by particular oceanographic and physiographic conditions that promote great biodiversity, including abundant fishery resources. Systematic sampling through oceanographic campaigns (November 2015, April 2016), produced high-quality data to generate a trophic model balance using Ecopath software. The goal of this study is to know the baseline of the structure and functioning of this important marine area. The predator/prey matrix was drawn up from the stomach content analysis of 186 fish species integrated into 47 families. The schematic representation exemplifies a complex trophic interaction of 22 trophic groups, including 10 fish groups, 8 invertebrate, zooplankton, phytoplankton, benthic producers, and detritus. Production and consumption of biomass and ecotrophic efficiency values were calculated for each of the trophic groups. The Total System Throughput was of 319.514 t/km2/year. The Ascendency, system Overhead, and Development Capacity were of 476.4, 673.1, and 1150.0 flow bits, respectively. Campeche Bank is an oligotrophic system with an intermediate state of resilience to environmental variations, growth potential intermediate, and greatly influenced by loop and Caribbean currents. These properties together with indicators of overfishing in the system and pollution (hydrocarbons), highlight the requirement of controlling fishery pressures and monitor hydrocarbons industry in the area to maintain its function and biodiversity.