长江口春季鱼类浮游生物群落结构与环境因子的关系

随着源源不断的淡水径流入海与营养物质的输入，使长江口及其邻近海域成为生产力最高的水域，也孕育了我国近海重要的舟山渔场、吕泗渔场和长江口渔场。成淡水的交汇形成了长江口水域复杂的水文物理条件，使之成为众多鱼类的产卵场和育幼场(赵保仁等，1992；罗秉征等，1994)。河口鱼类浮游生物群落结构及其季节变化格局，既受制于其生殖种群的资源量，也与水域环境稳定性密切相关(Blaber et al.，1997；Joyeux，1998；Whitfield，1999)，因而受到国内外的广泛关注。有关以成体为基础的河口鱼类群落生态学已有较多的调查研究(杨伟祥等，1992；朱鑫华等，1994a，b)；而鱼类补充群体的研究，亦多集中于鱼卵和仔稚鱼的种类组成和分布等(杨东菜等，1990；沙学绅，1962)。本文利用1999年5月长江口生态环境与资源综合调査资料，主要研究鱼类浮游生物群落结构及其与环境因子的关系，以期深入探讨河口区鱼类补充过程与近海资源数量变动的关系，为动态监测三峡工程对河口生态环境影响提供科学依据。     

烟威近海鱼类群落分类β多样性及其组分空间变化的驱动因素分析

β多样性是区域生物多样性研究的重要方向,根据2020年在烟威近海的底拖网调查数据,采用Mantel检验分析和冗余分析(RDA)等方法,对驱动烟威近海鱼类群落β多样性及其组分的环境因素和空间距离进行了研究。结果显示,烟威近海调查共出现鱼类33种,其中优势种有3种,鱼类群落的β多样性均值为0.711～0.737,整体处于较高水平;全部鱼类群落和弱扩散鱼类群落β多样主要以物种替换(周转)组分为主,强扩散鱼类群落β多样性由丰富度差异(嵌套)组分来解释;空间距离和环境因素共同驱动烟威近海鱼类群落β多样性,离岸距离OD是影响烟威近海鱼类群落β多样性的关键因素,地理距离GD是物种替换的决定性驱动因子,环境因子影响了弱扩散鱼类群落的丰富度差异。表明空间距离驱动烟威近海鱼类群落β多样性的作用强于环境过滤,扩散限制是其β多样性的关键影响因素,研究结果可为烟威近海生物多样性保护提供理论依据。     

长江口张网鱼类群落结构特征及月相变化

为了解长江口鱼类群落结构的现状及变化特征,用张网作业对长江口2010年5月至2011年4月12个月鱼类群落进行了调查。结果1周年共记录56种鱼类,以鲈形目(27种)和鲱形目(10种)种类数目最多。鱼类区系为典型的亚热带动物区系,只出现暖水种(25种)及暖温种(31种)2种适温类型。鱼类种类数目以底栖鱼类(26种)和中上层鱼类占多数(21种),底层鱼类数目较少(9种)。丰度或生物量均由少数几种鱼类占优势。根据鱼类生态类群,海洋洄游性鱼类及河口性鱼类占据种类数目的主要地位,而生物量或丰度均由海洋洄游性鱼类占据主导。每网平均种类数目的最大值和最小值分别出现在7月(18.3种)和1月(7.2种),每网丰度最大值和最小值出现在11月(2 272尾/网)和1月(71尾/网),生物量的最大值出现在9月(11 892g/网),最小值出现在1月(351g/网),而主要种类丰度的时间分布差异也较大;基于丰度计算的Shannon-Wiener多样性指数及Simpson优势度集中指数在时间上也有较大差异,NMDS非度量多维尺度分析显示根据相似性鱼类群落在时间上可分为4组,相邻月一般相似性较近,但2010年12月和2011年1月相似性较小。此外,多元回归分析表明,在径流量、盐度及水温3个环境因素中,引起张网鱼类群落丰度时间变化的主要影响因素是水温。鉴于当前长江口张网捕捞努力量有增加趋势,为保护长江口鱼类群落,需要控制过高的捕捞努力量。     

长江河口生态系统鱼类浮游生物生态学研究进展

鱼类浮游生物群落结构的时空分布和动态变化与其所处水域的环境因子有密切的关系，它的变动受环境因子的变化和时空异质性的制约，而其鱼类浮游生物群落结构的变动最具代表性。研究证明，鱼类浮游生物群落结构对鱼类资源的补充，延续和维持生态平衡具有重要的意义，但尚无系统报道。本文就长江口鱼类浮游生物群落的研究做了阐述。三峡工程建设之后，通过改变长江径流来改变长江口水域的温度、盐度及其他非生物因子，同时由于非生物因子的变化，也引起生物因子的改变，从而使鱼类浮游生物优势种的组成和群落结构的生态性质发生了一定的变化，可以影响到长江口鱼类资源的补充，进一步改变长江口水域生态系统的平衡。     

黄河口大型底栖动物群落结构特征及其与环境因子的耦合分析

为探究复杂环境下的河口大型底栖生物群落结构特征,研究了黄河口及其毗邻海域内14个站位的底栖生物群落结构及其与主要环境因子的耦合关系。研究结果表明调查海域底栖生物群落组成和结构的空间异质性较高。底栖生物优势度不明显,优势物种集中于河口附近站位。生物多样性随离河口距离增加而增加,物种丰富度和生物多样性指数等的高值区均出现在远离河口的渤海湾和渤海中部站位,低值区位于近河口站位。对底栖生物群落的非参数多维排序(nMDS)和等级聚类分析显示,底栖生物群落结构相似性较低。丰度/生物量曲线(ABC曲线)分析显示,黄河口底栖生物群落整体上处于稳定状态,但近河口和莱州湾中西部站位受到干扰影响,群落结构不稳定。研究还表明生物量大的底栖生物(软体动物)倾向于向重金属含量较高的站位聚集。综合沉积物化学、预测毒性和底栖生物群落结构变化的评价结果可知,远离黄河口的沉积物环境质量普遍较好,而河口附近的沉积物环境质量较差。     

夏季长江口海水中自由生活和颗粒附着古菌群落的组装过程研究

长江口位于长江和东海的重要交互区域,是研究海洋微生物生态作用的典型环境,但当前对海水中不同生活方式的海洋古菌在长江口的分布和组装过程尚未见系统的研究。采集夏季长江口海水中不同生活方式的古菌样品,基于宏基因组技术分析其多样性、分布特征和环境驱动因素,利用中性模型和零模型方法对其群落组装机制进行评估。研究结果显示泉古菌门(Crenarchaeota)是长江口古菌群落中的优势菌群。在科分类水平上,不同生活方式古菌群落组成存在差异, Marine Group II在自由生活状态(FL)中更加丰富,而Bathyarchaeia在颗粒附着状态(PA)中拥有更高的相对丰度。自由生活和颗粒附着古菌之间的相似性很高,说明多数古菌具有自由生活和颗粒附着的双重生活方式。对两种生活方式下古菌群落都有显著影响的重要环境因子是温度、盐度和硅酸盐含量;亚硝酸盐显著影响自由生活的古菌群落,叶绿素a显著影响颗粒附着的古菌群落(P<0.05)。结合中性模型和零模型,发现长江口海水中古菌群落的组装由随机性过程主导,生态漂变(76%贡献度)是颗粒附着古菌群落的主要组装方式,而对自由生活的古菌群落,其组装受到扩散限制、均...     

三峡工程蓄水前后秋季长江口鱼类浮游生物群落结构的动态变化初探

对长江口及其邻近海域2002年秋季与2003年秋季鱼类浮游生物的调查资料进行比较,分析三峡工程蓄水前后秋季长江口鱼类浮游生物群落结构特征变化.结果发现,蓄水后鱼类浮游生物种类和数量比蓄水前有所增加,群落结构和时空分布特征发生了明显的改变,一些分布在黄渤海的种类如方氏云ND022等开始在东海出现,并且部分鱼类的生殖时间上也发生了改变.利用相对重要性指数（IRI）对长江口鱼类浮游生物进行优势度检验,其优势种成分也发生了很大的变化,虽仍是以小型种类为主,但原占绝对优势的日本ND023优势度开始逐渐下降,成为常见种,而康氏小公鱼的数量急剧上升.阐明了长江口鱼类资源的补充及群落结构和多样性变化规律及其与环境的关系,为动态监测三峡工程对河口生态环境的影响提供科学依据.     

中国亚热带-热带3个海区微型鞭毛虫群落优势种和稀有种的分布特征和建群机制

海洋微型鞭毛虫是海洋微型真核浮游生物中非常重要的一大类群,在构成和维持海洋生态系统的结构和功能中扮演着重要角色。微生物群落通常由少数优势种和大量稀有种组成,这种分布模式在海洋微型鞭毛虫群落中也极为常见,并且二者的内在特征可能对群落生物地理分布格局以及生态系统功能产生不同影响。然而在多数研究中并未将两种不同亚群落进行区分,对二者的分布特征、对环境和空间因子的响应以及在总体群落中的生态地位等的认识十分有限。本研究利用高通量测序技术,调查了中国近海亚热带 热带3个自然海区微型鞭毛虫群落中优势种和稀有种的分布特征,并探讨了环境因子和空间因子与不同亚群落之间的关系,利用中性模型揭示了中性过程在群落构建中的作用,最后通过共现网络分析解析了两种不同亚群落在总体群落中的生态地位。结果表明：3个海区微型鞭毛虫群落中的优势类群和稀有类群在多样性和物种组成上具有不同的特征,表现出一定的生物地理分布格局;这与它们受到不同程度环境因子和空间因子的驱动作用有关;中性模型的结果体现了随机过程在两种亚群落中的重要作用;最后,共现网络关系反映出不同丰富程度的生态类群具有重叠但又相异的生态位,从而在同一环境中形成物种的共存,维持了群落结构的稳定,而稀有类群以较高的连接度和更高比例的关键种数目,在网络关系中起到重要的连接作用。本研究初步揭示了中国近海微型鞭毛虫优势种和稀有种的分布特征和建群机制,为深入认识海洋微型鞭毛虫的群落结构、分布格局以及影响其群落构建的生态过程提供理论依据。     

2004和2007年春季长江口近海鱼类群落特征及其与环境因子的关系

根据2004年5月和2007年5月长江口近海渔业资源调查数据,应用双向指示种分析(TWINSPAN)和典范对应分析(CCA)方法,分析了春季长江口鱼类群落特征,探讨了春季长江口鱼类群聚结构及其与环境因子的关系。结果表明,2个春季航次共捕获鱼类生物9目25科36种,其中带鱼(Trichiurus lepturus)、黄鲫(Setipinna taty)、鳀(Engraulis japonicas)、竹荚鱼(Trachurus japonicas)、小黄鱼(Larimichthys polyactis)和鲐(Scomber japonicas)为优势种。2004和2007年长江口近海鱼类存在4个生物群聚:以鲐为特征种的南部高温型、以带鱼为优势种的南部低温型、以竹荚鱼为代表的北部高温型和以黄鲫占绝对优势的北部低温型。影响2004和2007年长江口海域鱼类分布的主要环境因子为水深、底层总磷、表层悬浮体含量、底层盐度和表层温度。其中,水深、盐度和悬浮体含量驱动鱼类群聚空间变异,温度驱动了时间变异。与1999—2001年相比较,2004和2007年长江口鱼类群落发生显著变异,鱼类资源种类数量和生物量减少,优势种亦发生演替;水深、盐度、温度变异对鱼类群聚分布保持影响力,水域悬浮体含量成为鱼类群聚空间变异的重要驱动因素。     

渤海鱼类群落个体数指标时空格局的因子分析

鱼类群落是水域生态系统内生产力动态的重要输出成分,也是当今以生态系统多样性为核心的生物多样性研究的主要内容。分析鱼类群落结构,通常采用描述自然群落多样性综合指数,如物种数、生态密度和群落多样性结构指数(朱鑫华等,1994a, Washington,1984),或通过多元统计分析的方法,比较群落内生物因素的时空格局动态特征及其与非生物环境参数的相关性(朱鑫华等,1994b; Ardisson et al.,1990)、优势种代表站区和主成分鱼种空间分布特征(周建魁,1984;徐青,1988)。本文运用多元统计分析中的因子分析法,解析渤海鱼类群落指标——全部鱼种个体数生态密度(NED)时空分布格局特征,旨在探讨鱼类群落时空格局易变性和稳定性,以解释増殖水域群落结构特征、多鱼种种间关系及其鱼种生态栖息地利用间的相互关系(Ulanowicz and Platt,1985),这一问题已成为当前生物群落动力学研究的热点问题(Diamond and Case,1986, Morris,1987)。     

Limiting similarity, niche filtering and functional diversity in coastal lagoon fish communities

The fundamental idea behind the study of biodiversity patterns is the presumed connection between the shape of species assemblages and the functional ways in which they are organized, this functional organization referring to how species are related to one another, as competitors or members of a web of interactions and to how species are facing similar environmental constraints. Amongst the different facets of biodiversity, functional diversity is certainly a key for ecosystem processes in coastal areas. However, surprisingly, patterns of functional diversity have received little attention until now. After presenting a common framework linking functional diversity patterns to species coexistence theories, the aim of our study was twofold: (1) to seek assembly rules in brackish lagoon fish communities drove by functional traits. To this aim we used null models to examine the influence of two opposing forces acting on community structure: interspecific competition that might prevent the coexistence of the most similar species, and environmental filters that might result in the most similar species to coexist. (2) To seek relationships between fish functional diversity and environmental gradients, if any. Fish sampling was carried out in two coastal lagoons where stations differ considerably in terms of physicochemical parameters. Using morphological functional traits, functional diversity of fish communities was estimated using two recently published indices as well as a new proposed index. Firstly our study was not able to demonstrate a limitation of similarity in coexisting lagoon fishes due to interspecific competition. Conversely our results support the niche filtering hypothesis preventing species too dissimilar from one another to co-occur at the same station. Secondly, salinity was positively related to the functional diversity of fishes in both lagoons suggesting that within species assemblages near the channel species are less redundant than at stations far from the channel where species tend to be functionally similar (benthic and eating zooplankton).     

Demersal fishes in a tropical bay in southeastern Brazil: Partitioning the spatial, temporal and environmental components of ecological variation

This study analyzed the factors structuring demersal fish community in a tropical bay in southeastern Brazil. The results were used to quantify the partitioning of ecological variation among the environmental, spatial and temporal components molding the fish community. Three bay zones (inner, middle and outer) were defined according to depth and salinity gradient. Monthly samplings were conducted by bottom trawl tows during daylight hours, between October 1998 and September 1999. In each zone, three replicate samples were taken. Ninety-three fish species from 73 genera and 37 families were recorded in the 108 samples. Two demersal fish assemblages were evidenced, one in the inner and the other in the outer zone. These assemblages were characterized by changes in species composition and relative abundance. Depth, followed by transparency and salinity, influenced spatial pattern of fish assemblages. The largest part of the explained variation occurred as a result of the spatial structure of environmental variables, which means that both species and environmental variables presented similar spatial structure. The spatial effect, not the seasonal, explained the highest part of species variations. The amount of unexplained variation was relatively high (76%), even assuming that part of it is due to nondeterministic fluctuation, which could be due to local effects of unmeasured (biotic and abiotic) controlling variables. Knowing the relative importance of these factors can be of decisive importance when applying casual hypotheses in the framework of some precise ecological theory and should facilitate management, planning, and usage of bay resources.     

Partitioning of temperature resources amongst an estuarine fish assemblage

Temperature (i.e. habitat at any given temperature) is an ecological resource for which organisms compete to maximise growth and other fitness measures, but the temperature (thermal habitat)-resource concept has not been widely applied to the study of estuarine fish. Temperature–abundance relationships for 16 fish and four invertebrate species from the Thames estuary were analysed to test hypotheses regarding temperature resource partitioning. Significant temperature–abundance models were apparent, explaining >65% of the variability in 13 fish species and 50% of variability in three invertebrate species. Fish demonstrated differential responses to temperature across the range. Invertebrates generally preferred warmer conditions than fish. Calculated thermal niche breadths indicated species preferenda spread across the recorded temperature range and some separation along the thermal niche axis within the same functional guild or taxonomic group. Calculated overlap coefficients and resource separation ratios provided some evidence for resource separation and demonstrated that species closely aligned on other niche axes (e.g. physical habitat use, feeding type) were most likely to be separated in terms of their use of thermal habitat resources, suggesting where other niche axes variables are not separating species, division of the temperature resources may be preventing competition between fish species. Few fish species demonstrated significant overlap with potential invertebrate prey, suggesting facultative use of the estuary to exploit optimal thermal habitat rather than food supply. The temporal migration pattern of fish in estuaries is therefore interpreted as a response to resource separation along the temperature axis which limits potential competition between functionally or taxonomically similar species. Thermal resource partitioning in estuaries has temporal rather than spatial dimensions and provides an example of the niche compression/expansion hypothesis.     

Co-occurrence of demersal fishes in a tropical bay in southeastern Brazil: A null model analysis

Co-occurrence of demersal fishes was assessed in a tropical bay in southeastern Brazil along an environmental gradient (inner, middle, and outer zones), defined according to depth and salinity. The aim was to test whether fish species are distributed randomly and independently of one another in accordance with a null model. The unconstrained null hypothesis for occurrence of a given species by chance in relation to other species was accepted for each zone separately, and rejected for the bay as a whole, for the full year and for each season separately, except summer. Findings of the environmentally constrained null models, which predict species presence or absence as a function of environmental conditions, were not significant, suggesting that the environmental variables we chose are not key factors for these species and that biotic interactions between species are not strong when species–environment relationships are considered. The partition of available resources inside each zone and fish movements along the three zones during summer may have contributed to higher fish species co-occurrence. Habitat segregation in the bay during the remaining seasons could explain the pattern of reduced co-occurrence, indicating the presence of two fish assemblages associated with different environmental characteristics.     

Assembly processes in upper subtidal macroalgae: The effect of wave exposure

The structure and diversity of sixteen macroalgal assemblages originating from two coastal locations in the Northern (Kavala gulf) and Central (Maliakos gulf) Aegean in Greece were explored by examining their relative abundance distributions (RADs) and fitting five stochastic niche-based models. A mechanistic interpretation of the underpinning assembly processes was attempted by relating the assumptions of the fitted models with available abiotic data corresponding to each assemblage. The random fraction niche-based model, assuming a random niche apportionment to species, was fitted to the majority of Maliakos assemblages characterized by more evenly distributed and speciose RADs, whereas the random assortment model, assuming no relationship among species abundance and niche size, was fitted to most of the Kavala assemblages characterized by steeper RADs with fewer species. Among the possible underlying mechanisms, wave exposure seems to play a key role in macroalgal assembly processes; however factors such as biogeography and hard substrate availability must be also taken into consideration. Short-term processes as changes in resource availability (nutrients and light), known as drivers of assembly rules in other primary producers (e.g. phytoplankton), do not considerably affect macroalgae in the oligotrophic Eastern Mediterranean, possibly due to their longer life spans.     

Diversity patterns of free‐living marine nematodes in the southwest continental shelf off Bay of Bengal and their link to abiotic variables

Marine sediments in continental shelf ecosystems harbor a rich biodiversity of benthic communities. In this study, the spatial and temporal diversity and community assemblages of free‐living marine nematodes were studied by sampling at six depths and over 3 years from the southwest continental shelf off Bay of Bengal, one of the least explored tropical shelf ecosystems. The dominant marine nematode species were related with abiotic variables as part of this study. The effects of sediment granulometry generally decreased with increasing depth and the highest nematode density and species diversity were recorded on coarse sand (shallower depths). Multivariate analysis of the nematode community data showed that community structure differed significantly among depths as well as among years. Statistical analyses showed significant correlations between the nematode community and abiotic variables. Sediment texture, organic matter, water pressure and depth profile were crucial factors for determining diversity, vertical profile and feeding types of the nematode community. Other environmental factors, including anthropogenic pressure, did not have an effect on nematode diversity except for the presence of some tolerant species (Metachromadora spp., Sabatieria spp. and Siplophorella sp.). This study represents a baseline of knowledge of free‐living marine nematode communities that can be used in the future to compare nematode assemblages from temperate shelf ecosystems.     

Spatial and temporal variation in subtidal molluscan diversity amongst temperate estuarine habitats

Effective management of marine ecosystems is enhanced when detailed information on biodiversity is available. Key information to underpin management actions and conservation planning includes relationships between species assemblages and environmental gradients, and information on species distributions. We conducted a subtidal biodiversity assessment of surface‐dwelling subtidal molluscs in eight a priori defined habitat types using underwater visual censuses to quantitatively explore relationships between molluscan assemblages, and their correlation with benthic habitats and abiotic variables. In addition, variations in diversity were examined for two key habitat types (areas dominated by Dendronephthya australis and by filter feeders) over a period of 15 months to examine temporal change. We found that molluscs form distinct assemblages within subtidal habitats, but that assemblages within key habitats show inherent temporal variability. Regional (gamma) diversity of molluscs was found to result from a combination of: (i) within habitat alpha diversity, which increased with habitat complexity; (ii) between habitat beta diversity, with significant differences in molluscan assemblages amongst habitats with differing benthic growth, substrate type, and depth; and (iii) temporal beta diversity, with significant changes detected in molluscan assemblages over time. The results demonstrate how habitats and abiotic variables (principally depth and substrate type) combine to contribute to molluscan biodiversity in temperate estuaries, and illustrate the value of these factors as surrogates for surface‐dwelling subtidal molluscs in conservation planning.     

Evaluating the relationship between spatial heterogeneity and temporal variability of larval fish assemblages in a coastal marine ecosystem (Haizhou Bay,China)

In coastal marine ecosystems, spatial patterns of larval fish assemblages (LFAs) tend to exhibit geographic stability because of relatively stable spawning site selection and predictable oceanographic phenomena such as eddies. To evaluate the relationship between spatial heterogeneity and temporal variability of LFAs, we conducted a high spatiotemporal resolution ichthyoplankton survey from April to July in 2013 in the shallow waters (<20 m) of Haizhou Bay, China. Our analysis indicated three distinct assemblages, which were stable geographically but exhibited a gradual and directional change of species composition and abundance over our study period. Sea surface temperature was the most important environmental co‐variate for determining temporal variability of LFAs, likely owing to temperature effects of species composition and spawning period selection of adult fish, along with known temperature‐dependent survival rates of larval fish. Study of LFA spatiotemporal dynamics is essential for improved understanding of adult fish spawning behavior, and has potential to inform design and implementation of conservation and management measures (e.g. marine protected areas) in coastal systems.     

Spatial and seasonal variations of fish assemblages in mangrove creek systems in Zanzibar (Tanzania)

Spatial and seasonal variations of fish assemblage composition were studied in three non-estuarine mangrove creeks of Zanzibar (Tanzania). Fish were collected monthly for one year at three sites (lower, intermediate and upper reaches) in each creek using a seine net (each haul covering 170 m²). Density, species number and diversity of fish were all higher at sites with dense cover of macrophytes (seagrass and macroalgae) than over unvegetated sandy sites. In general, fish assemblages mainly comprised juveniles of a few abundant taxa, e.g. Mugil cephalus, Mugilidae spp. and Leiognathus equulus at sites with mud substratum and Gerres oyena, Lethrinus harak and Sillago sihama at sites dominated by macrophytes. Multivariate analyses revealed significant separations in fish assemblage composition within the two creeks where the bottom substratum differed among sites. Overall, season seemed to have little effect on density, species number, diversity index (H′) and assemblage structure of fish. Water condition variables were also relatively stable across the season, although a short-term fluctuation primarily induced by decreased salinity, occurred during the heavy rains in April and May. Fish assemblage structure was not significantly affected by any of the abiotic factors tested. However, significant regressions were found between the other fish variables and environmental variables, but since these associations were mostly species-specific and generally inconsistent, we suggest that the overall distribution patterns of fish were mainly an effect of particular substrate preferences of fish species rather than contemporary water conditions.     

Composition, structural characteristics and temporal patterns of fish assemblages in non-tidal Mediterranean lagoons: A case study

The importance of transitional water ecosystems as nursery habitats and feeding grounds for fish species is well-known. Detailed studies of colonization patterns of fish guilds in response to biotic and abiotic drivers are however unevenly distributed among ecosystem types. We address here the temporal variability of fish assemblages in small non-tidal lagoons in the Mediterranean basin. The study was carried out at the Acquatina lagoon (Lecce, Italy) where four stations, situated in two habitat types along a confinement gradient, were sampled twice per month for one year with fyke nets. Forty-five taxa ranging across 20 families were collected, with the most abundant species, Atherina boyeri, accounting for more than 95% of total abundance. Pooling all species together (excluding sand smelt), the structural features of the assemblage, relative abundance of families, and abundance of individual species all showed significant temporal patterns. Mean abundance peaked in Summer and Autumn and fell in Winter, whereas taxonomic richness and diversity were highest in Summer and lowest in Spring. Within the fish assemblage, multivariate ordination showed temporal segregation of species belonging to the same family or genus and expected to be functionally similar, suggesting that they avoid competition for space and resources by timing inward migration and peak occurrence differently. Of the environmental driving forces, which also showed temporal patterns of variation, salinity was the main factor affecting the distribution of individuals and species. The catch of young individuals of several marine species confirmed the role of this small lagoon as a nursery and feeding area, and emphasized the need for further studies.