Estructura y categorías tróficas de peces asociados a praderas de Thalassia testudinum (Hydrocharitales, Hydrocharitaceae) en el golfo de Cariaco, Estado de Sucre, Venezuela

Abstract

The trophic structure and categories of the fish community associated with Thalassia testudinum meadows in the Golfo de Cariaco, Venezuela, were analyzed. The fish were caught from December 1996 through November 1997, using a seine-type net. Specimens were quantified and the total species abundance, total species richness, and frequency of appearance were calculated. Each species was placed into one of five trophic categories: carnivorous, herbivorous, omnivorous, planktivorous, and detritivorous. A dendrogram was used to establish the degree of similarity in food between the different species and trophic categories. The 15,509 fish collected belonged to 27 families and 44 species. Of these, 23 species were found to be carnivorous (57%), eight omnivorous (20%), five planktivorous (13%), two herbivorous, and two detritivorous (5%). Twelve of the carnivorous species were scarce. The only herbivorous species were Nicholsina usta and Nicholsina usta. The dendrogram showed two main groups: group A, made up of omnivorous and carnivorous species and group B, consisting of detrivorous, herbivorous, and planktivorous species. © 2007 Escuela de Ciencias del Mar Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso.