Mudflat nekton assemblages in the Tagus estuary (Portugal): distribution and feeding patterns

Susana França; Miguel A. Pardal; Henrique N. Cabral

doi:10.3989/scimar.2008.72n3591

Autores/as

Susana França Instituto de Oceanografia, Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade de Lisboa
Miguel A. Pardal IMAR – Institute of Marine Research, Department of Zoology, University of Coimbra
Henrique N. Cabral Departamento de Biologia Animal, Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade de Lisboa

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3989/scimar.2008.72n3591

Palabras clave:

nekton, estructura comunitaria, ración diaria, fondos fangosos, intermareal, estuario del Tajo

Resumen

Los substratos fangosos son componentes importantes de los estuarios, donde pueden ocupar amplias zonas y proporcionar alimento a las áreas de nursery de muchos peces y aves, como en el estuario de Tagus. Sin embargo, el conocimiento sobre su papel y funcionamiento es aún escaso. Se estudiaron la dinámica espacial y temporal de las comunidades bentónicas en una zona fangosa del estuario de Tagus, determinando su papel en el funcionamiento del estuario. Asimismo, se analizó la actividad alimenticia y las raciones diarias de las especies principales del nekton. Se muestrearon dos áreas fangosas intermareales (superior e inferior), así como las zonas submareales adyacentes. Los muestreos se realizaron cada dos meses durante un año. Se realizó un ciclo de 24 h para investigar las pautas alimenticias y determinar la ración diaria. Crangon crangon, Carcinus maenas, Palaemon longirostris, Palaemon serratus y Pomatoschistus microps dominan la comunidad nectónica. Se observa una pauta estacional clara, con las densidades más altas en primavera y verano, que corresponden a los episodios de reclutamiento de las especies mencionadas. Las biomasas más elevadas se obtuvieron en la zona submareal, mientras las densidades mayores se midieron en el intermareal. Los fondos fangosos del estuario de Tagus parecen jugar un papel importante en su dinámica, actuado como áreas de alimento y nursery de diversas especies nectónicas.

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