Comparative Analysis of Distribution of Intertidal Fish Assemblages in Different Estuarine Systems on Northern Coast of Brazil

Abstract

The northern coast of Brazil has more than 30 estuaries distributed along 650 km of coastline. These conditions favor the presence of relatively large fish communities in estuarine environments, but published information on the fish fauna in tidal creeks in northern Brazil is only available for some mangrove systems, and comparative studies between fish estuarine communities in different tidal creeks are less common. The choice of the study area was based on the fact that it has been poorly investigated with regard to estuarine fish fauna in comparison in mangrove tidal creeks using the same fishing gear. The objective of the present study was to compare the composition of the relative biomass of taxonomic, functional and ecological guilds of fish assemblages occurring in estuarine systems along the northern coast of Brazil. The study area of the present comparative analysis extended from the southeastern edge of the Marajoara Gulf to the western edge of the Maranhense Gulf. A comparative analysis among different estuarine systems was performed using data from other studies. The abundance of juveniles was greater in the Caeté, Curuçá and Cururuca estuaries than other estuaries. Cluster analysis separated the estuaries into two distinct groups and significant differences between these groups only exist in relation to geographical proximity. The present investigation indicates that the coastal region between the states of Pará and Maranhão is characterized by high dynamics and environmental heterogeneity, particularly with regard to changes in river discharge and tidal fluctuations. The present results underscore the importance of ecological information on ichthyofauna in tropical estuaries in order to include appropriate descriptors in conservation or restoration processes of marine communities and habitats.