浙江瓯江口海域游泳动物群落特征及其与环境因子的关系

瓯江口海域是传统的浙江省渔业资源栖息地,现今受高强度人为扰动的影响。为了解瓯江口海域游泳动物群落组成和多样性特征,采用单拖网方法对瓯江口春季(3月)和秋季(11月)游泳动物进行调查,并对其群落组成、生物多样性、资源密度和时空分布格局及主要影响因子等进行了研究。调查结果显示,研究海域共采集到游泳动物78种,其中鱼类有36种、甲壳动物28种、头足类3种。游泳动物优势种春季有9种,秋季有6种;两个季节共同优势种有4种。春季的渔获物的丰度远低于秋季,而春季的生物量则与秋季相差不大。基于丰度和生物量的多样性指数(H’)、均匀度指数(J’)和丰富度指数(d)均为秋季高于春季。在瓯江口海域,水体悬浮物是影响游泳动物群落多样性和丰富度的最重要的环境因子。通过对浙江瓯江口海域游泳动物群落特征及其与环境因子的内在关联的研究,有望为瓯江口海域渔业资源变迁特征和资源养护管理决策提供基础数据和科学依据。     

粤西海陵湾养殖区邻近海域大型底栖动物生态学特征

根据2014—2016年粤西海陵湾养殖区湾内和湾外邻近海域21°27′—21°38′N、111°42′—111°57′E 4个航次调查资料,对其大型底栖动物生态学特征进行了研究。结果表明,共鉴定大型底栖动物64种,春季种类最多为39种,秋季最低为17种。4季均以环节动物种类数最多,软体动物次之。不同季节间优势种有所差异,仅倍棘蛇尾Amphioplus sp.为周年优势种。春、夏、秋和冬季第一优势种分别为倍棘蛇尾、菲律宾蛤仔Ruditapes philippinarum、短吻铲荚螠Listriolobus brevirostris和平蛤蜊Mactra mera。平均丰度和生物量分别为213ind./m~2和15.4g/m~2,其中丰度以春季最高为248ind./m~2,夏季最低为167ind./m~2,而生物量则以秋季最高为28.0g/m~2,春季最低为2.4g/m~2;平面分布总体呈现湾外高于湾内的趋势。底栖动物Pielou均匀度和Shannon-Wiener多样性指数分别为0.95—1.00和1.56—4.07,其中时间分布规律明显,春季最高,秋季最低;空间上,两者无明显分布差异。群落结构时空差异显著,为沉积物类型、水深、底层无机氮和悬浮物以及捕食压力等因素共同影响的结果。     

Temporal changes in benthic communities of seagrass beds impacted by a tsunami in the Andaman Sea,Thailand

Seagrass beds are susceptible to various natural and human-induced disturbances. Disturbances affect not only seagrasses, but also the abundance and diversity of associated macrofaunal communities. The Andaman Sea coast of Thailand was heavily affected by the tsunami of December 26, 2004. To examine its impact on seagrass macrofaunal communities, we compared the abundance, diversity and taxa composition by quantitative samplings in 2001 (before the tsunami) and in 2005 and 2006 (after the tsunami). Macrobenthic animals and sediments were collected from vegetated and nonvegetated areas of two sites that had received different levels of tsunami disturbances. A large decline in abundance and diversity was observed in the nonvegetated areas after the tsunami, whereas an increase was observed in the vegetated areas. The magnitude of decline and subsequent recovery of abundance and diversity of macrobenthic animals in nonvegetated areas were similar between the two sites, suggesting that their temporal changes were not solely related to the magnitude of the tsunami disturbance. Similarity of the benthic animals differed greatly between 2001 and 2005–2006 at the nonvegetated areas, whereas it varied less among the 3 years at the seagrass-vegetated areas. This study demonstrated that the presence of seagrass vegetation alters the patterns of temporal variation in macrofaunal assemblages and subsequent recovery processes following a tsunami.     

广西钦州湾大型底栖动物生态特征及其与沉积物环境的相关性研究

为研究钦州湾大型底栖动物的生态特征,探讨影响大型底栖动物分布的主要因素,于2011年5月在钦州湾进行大型底栖动物调查,并同步采集沉积物样品,进行理化性质分析。使用Surfer软件绘制各群落特征指数的平面分布图,用SPSS软件分析群落特征指数与沉积物环境因子之间的关联性。共采集到大型底栖动物种类55种。平均生物量为105.48 g/m2,平均密度为50ind/m2。香农-维纳指数(H')、种类均匀度指数(J')和丰富度指数(D)的平均值分别为1.44,0.63和0.64。群落特征指数与沉积物环境因子之间的相关性分析结果显示,密度与Cu,Pb,Zn,Cd,Cr,Hg以及有机碳呈显著负相关;种类数与所分析的10项沉积物环境因子之间均呈显著负相关;均匀度指数与Hg和有机碳呈显著负相关;丰富度指数与硫化物呈显著负相关;生物量和香农-威纳指数与沉积物各环境因子之间均没有显著的相关性。     

Macrobenthic surf zone communities of temperate sandy beaches: spatial and temporal patterns

The spatial and temporal patterns within the surf zone epibenthic assemblages were studied in a coastal fringe of Argentina to determine whether assemblage compositions, abundance, species richness and diversity vary spatially and temporarily. Sampling was conducted seasonally in two sandy beaches over 2 years with a benthic sledge used to collect the fauna in the upper centimeters of soft bottom sediments and the epifauna on the sediment surface. Physical variables were measured in the same coastal sites where biological sampling was conducted. A total of 58 morphospecies were collected. Peracarid crustaceans were the most abundant group. The mysid Pseudobranchiomysis arenae (new genus–new species) (29.73 ± 17.79 ind. per sample) and the isopod Leptoserolis bonaerensis (51.54 ± 22.35 ind. per sample) were the most abundant and common species and were present regularly throughout the sampling period. Differences in the surf zone community composition were found between the beaches; these differences could be related to variation in physical parameters such as sand grain size and wave climate, indicating the possible influence of the morphodynamic state of the beaches on the epibenthic assemblages. A seasonal abundance trend was detected, reflecting the changes in abundance of the two dominant species; the richness pattern was not easily detectable due to the sporadic appearance of non‐resident species in the surf zone, probably due to different causes, including dispersion by entry of water from surrounding areas, littoral currents and storms. The surf zone studied presents a complex and dynamic epibenthic community that appears to be influenced by the morphodynamic state of the beach and the dynamic of non‐resident species.     

莱州湾和牟平近海夏季小型底栖生物群落组成及环境状况分析

为探究莱州湾和牟平近海小型底栖生物群落组成及影响因子,作者于2016年7月在这两个海域采集了沉积物样品,并结合沉积环境因子进行了小型底栖生物群落组成分析。结果表明,在莱州湾和牟平近海各仅检获了7个小型底栖生物类群,且莱州湾的小型底栖生物平均丰度和生物量均明显低于牟平近岸海域。莱州湾线虫和桡足类平均丰度分别占小型底栖生物的91.9%和6.3%,牟平近海分别占92.1%和4.2%。对两个海域小型底栖生物群落组成与环境因子进行Pearson相关性分析,结果显示:小型底栖生物丰度与底层水溶解氧含量呈显著正相关;表层小型底栖生物丰度比与沉积物中叶绿素a含量、脱镁叶绿素含量、沉积物有机质含量以及水深呈显著正相关,与中值粒径和底层水温度呈显著负相关。本研究显示,基于不同沉积物类型中的参考比值,线虫和桡足类丰度比值(N/C)可用于莱州湾和牟平近海沉积环境有机污染状况的评估。研究还发现,牟平海域的小型底栖生物丰度和生物量呈现由近岸向外海增加的异常趋势,且小型底栖生物的数量和类群多样性较十年前显著降低,显示沉积环境受到了明显干扰。     

渤海湾曹妃甸围填海工程对大型底栖动物群落的影响

为研究渤海湾围填海工程对附近海域大型底栖动物群落的影响,利用2013年秋季和2014年春季调查数据,对渤海湾附近海域大型底栖动物群落的物种数、总平均丰度、总平均生物量和生物多样性指数进行分析。结果发现,调查区域的优势类群为多毛类,优势种为凸壳肌蛤(Musculus senhousia)和日本倍棘蛇尾(Amphioplus japonicas),这与渤海湾大型底栖动物群落优势种单一和物种小型化的特征相符。曹妃甸围填海海域与邻近海域的大型底栖动物群落物种数、丰度、生物量和多样性指数均没有显著差异。2014年春季较2013年秋季的大型底栖动物群落多样性稍有所提高,这可能是围填海工程放缓和阶段性施工结束后生物群落在缓慢的恢复。ABC曲线(Abundance/Biomass Curves)分析表明渤海湾大型底栖动物群落均已受到中等程度干扰;M-AMBI指数分析发现曹妃甸围填海区大型底栖动物群落健康状况较差。结合渤海湾围填海面积和历史数据,发现围填海等人类活动已对渤海湾生态环境和大型底栖动物群落造成了不同程度的影响,导致该区域的生态系统受损。受损生态系统的完全恢复需要漫长的过程,受损大型底栖动物群落的次生演替也需要较长的时间,短时间内不会有明显的改善。     

Differences in abundance and distribution of Alexandrium cysts in Sendai Bay,northern Japan,before and after the tsunami caused by the Great East Japan Earthquake

The tsunami caused by the Great East Japan Earthquake on 11 March 2011 greatly influenced the coastal benthic environment on the northern Pacific coast of Japan. We used the direct count method to investigate changes in the abundance and distribution of Alexandrium (Alexandrium tamarense and Alexandrium catenella) cysts before and after the tsunami in Sendai Bay. Densities of Alexandrium cysts in sediments collected in summer 2011 ranged from 0 to 8,190 cysts cm^?3. In the western part of the bay, the density increased greatly after the tsunami, the highest density being approximately 10 times the density recorded in 2005. Molecular identification of single cysts with multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) showed that Alexandrium tamarense dominated the cyst population in the southwestern part of the bay in 2011. Furthermore, accumulation of cysts on the surface sediment after disturbance of the sediment was confirmed by a laboratory experiment. The main factor causing the drastic changes in abundance and distribution of Alexandrium cysts after the earthquake was considered to be vertical and horizontal redistribution of the cysts in sediments after the tsunami.     

秋季南黄海浮游动物分布及其影响因素

基于2007年秋季在南黄海（32°20'~37°00'N;124°E以西）进行的浮游动物及环境因子大面调查;分析了秋季南黄海浮游动物种类组成、分布特征及其影响因素;主要结果如下:共鉴定浮游动物113种（不包括25种浮游幼体）;中华哲水蚤（Calanus sinicus）、强壮滨箭虫（Aidanosagitta crassa）、磷虾幼体（Euphausia larvae）和小齿海樽（Doliolum denticulatum）是秋季优势种;浮游动物丰度为（156.37±12.04）ind/m3;生物量为（172.57±10.41）mg/m3;与历史调查数据相比;本航次浮游动物丰度和生物量相对处于较高水平;磷虾幼体分布趋势与中华假磷虾（Psudeuphausia sinica）一致;说明秋季是中华假磷虾种群的一个重要的补充时期;小齿海樽在南黄海的大量出现系自身种群补充的结果;精致真刺水蚤（Euchaeta concinna）和肥胖软箭虫（Flaccisagitta enflata）主要分布在深水区;在近岸海区很少出现。中华哲水蚤、强壮滨箭虫丰度高值区倾向分布于海洋锋附近;进一步佐证了海洋锋对浮游动物的积聚作用。     

黄海夏季沉积物中异养细菌的现存量及分布特点

采用DAPI荧光染色技术, 进行了2007年6月和2008年7月黄海底栖异养细菌的丰度和生物量及分布特点研究。结果表明, 2007年底栖细菌的丰度为(1.13±0.39)×109cells/cm3, 生物量为(49.63±17.26)?gC/cm3; 2008年底栖细菌的现存量较2007年低了约43%。南黄海的底栖细菌现存量较北黄海分别低8%(2007年)和13%(2008年), 而中央冷水团则较其外围区域高约10%和37%, 在南黄海呈现中央冷水区域高于近岸的分布特点, 而在北黄海则正相反。统计分析表明, 2007年北黄海底栖细菌丰度与沉积物叶绿素a含量呈极显著正相关, 南黄海细菌丰度与沉积物有机质含量及底层水盐度呈极显著正相关; 而2008年北黄海细菌丰度与环境因子未见明显的相关性, 在南黄海则与底层水的叶绿素含量呈极显著负相关, 显示浒苔暴发可能对底栖细菌产生了明显抑制。     

Response of Meiofauna to Immediate Benthic Disturbance in the Central Indian Ocean Basin

Abstract

Twenty-four stations (12 each, during pre- and postdisturbance studies) 5300 to 5330 m deep between 10°01' and 10°03'S latitude and between 75°59' and 76°02'E longitude were sampled to study the effect of benthic disturbance on the distribution of meiofauna in the Central Indian Ocean. Bottom-sampling was conducted with a box corer. Total meiofauna density ranged from 35 to 45 organisms per 10 cm² of bottom area during the predisturbance period and 21 to 32 organisms per 10 cm² during the postdisturbance period in the test and reference sites. Differences between pre- and postdisturbance study results were statistically significant (P < 0.05). Nematoda was the most abundant meta-zoan group, on an average representing >55% of the meiofaunal population. The abundance of nematodes and harpacticoid copepods as well as total meiofauna showed marked decreases during postdisturbance sampling. Vertical distribution of meiofauna in the sediment cores revealed that 75% to 90% of the metazoan population was confined to the top 2-cm layer of the sediment. Recolonization experiments suggest that harpacticoid copepods may take more time for recolonization than the nematodes and are more sensitive to the physical disturbance. These findings suggest that nematodes and harpacticoid copepods can be used as indicator organisms in recolonization experiments.     

渤海大型底栖动物种类组成与群落结构研究

本文利用2008年8月在渤海23个站位采集的样品对大型底栖动物的丰度、生物量、群落结构及其与环境因子的关系进行了研究。共鉴定出大型底栖动物300种,主要类群包括环节动物多毛类、节肢动物甲壳类、软体动物、棘皮动物等。研究海域大型底栖动物的平均丰度为1 094.7ind/m2,平均生物量为11.78g/m2,其中丰度最高区位于辽东湾,最低区位于渤海湾;生物量最高区位于渤海中部,最低区出现在渤海海峡湾口处。依据丰度和生物量进行了CLUSTER聚类和MDS标序图分析,结果可将研究站位划分为6个站组,均与沉积物底质类型密切相关。所研究海域底质类型包括黏土质粉砂、砂、砂质粉砂、粉砂质砂、砂-粉砂-黏土5种。通过BIOENV分析,发现影响大型底栖动物群落结构和分布的主要环境因子有水深、黏土粉砂含量、脱镁叶绿酸含量、叶绿素含量等。与20世纪90年代历史数据的对比发现,本次研究大型底栖动物的物种数目明显减少,平均丰度也减少,特别是优势物种表现出了小型化趋势,传统的大型种类,如心形海胆、双壳类等,被小个体的多毛类和甲壳类所取代。本研究表明渤海近年来受人类活动影响,出现了不同程度的污染,导致大型底栖动物群落结构发生了变化。     

桑沟湾大型底栖动物生物多样性研究

为了解桑沟湾大型底栖动物多样性现状,作者于2009年7月和12月对桑沟湾9个站位进行2个航次的采样,以种类组成、生物量和栖息密度为基础,采用物种多样性指数(Shannon-Wiener index)、物种丰富度指数(Species richnessindex)以及物种均匀度指数(Species evenness index)对大型底栖动物多样性及其影响因子进行了分析。结果表明:共采到大型底栖动物83种,其中多毛类45种,占种类总数的54.22%,软体动物11种(占13.25%),甲壳类23种(占27.71%),其他4种(占4.82%)。各站获得平均种类数在2～28种之间,种类最少的出现在夏季的C8站,最多的出现在夏季的C4站。不同养殖区生物多样性指数差异也很大,物种多样性(H′)和物种丰富度指数(D)均以贝类养殖区最高,藻类养殖区最低,而物种均匀度指数(J′)以贝藻混养区最高,藻类养殖区最低。生物多样性除了受种的数量及其个体密度的影响外,还与多种环境因素有关,相关性分析结果表明:水温、盐度、沉积物类型和硫化物含量是影响桑沟湾大型底栖动物生物多样性的主要环境因子。     

Abundance of the introduced seastar, Asterias amurensis, and spatial variability in soft sediment assemblages in SE Tasmania: Clear correlations but complex interpretation

The northern Pacific seastar, Asterias amurensis, was first collected in southeast Tasmania in 1986. Mistaken for the endemic asteroid Uniophora granifera, its true identity was not realised until 1992. It is now a conspicuous predator in soft sediment habitats in this region, and is considered a major threat to native assemblages and commercial species. We examined the structure of soft sediment assemblages at different spatial scales in southeast Tasmania, and correlated spatial variation in community composition with seastar abundances. We found that the structure of soft sediment assemblages is highly variable at a range of spatial scales from metres to tens of kilometres. Clear differences in the composition of assemblages and abundances of major taxa were detected between areas with and without seastars and between areas with low and high seastar densities. However, the nature of these patterns suggests that they are more likely due to differences in sediment characteristics than due to impacts of the seastar. Thus, spatial differences in soft sediment assemblages might have been erroneously attributed to seastars without detailed information on important physical factors such as sediment characteristics. A second survey, using larger sampling units (1 m²) but across a more limited spatial extent, targeted bivalves and heart urchins that were identified as important prey of the seastar in observations of feeding and in experimental studies. Large-scale patterns of abundance and size structure were consistent with seastar effects anticipated from small-scale experimental and feeding studies for some, but not all, species. While the field survey ultimately provided evidence about the presence or absence of seastar impacts at large-scales, the identification of key ecological variables in experimental and feeding studies proved crucial to both the design and interpretation of patterns observed in the large-scale surveys. Overall, this work highlighted the necessity to consider multiple lines of evidence rather than relying on a single ‘inferential’ test, in the absence of pre-impact data.     

Colonization of mine tailings by marine invertebrates

An experiment was conducted to determine if a tailings substrate would inhibit recolonization of benthic macrofauna upon closure of a submarine tailings disposal (STD) operation. Trays of defaunated marine sediment, serving as a reference, and trays of tailings from a proposed gold mine were placed at 21 m depth on the ocean floor to allow colonization via settlement from the water column. Trays of reference sediment and tailings, and cores of ambient sediment were collected 9, 17, and 22 months after tray placement. Probable tray effects, which were desirable given the objectives of this study, precluded direct comparison of ecological succession in the tray sediments to the ambient assemblage. The ambient macrofauna assemblage was distinguishable from the reference sediment and tailings assemblages throughout the experiment and displayed more pronounced seasonality. Differences between the reference sediment and tailings assemblages were generally insignificant, including total abundance, total biomass, number of taxa, average size of individuals, numerically dominant taxa, abundance by ecological guilds, and overall community composition. Upon cessation of STD, recolonization of a benthic macrofauna community should not be inhibited by the presence of these tailings as a benthic substrate.     

杭州湾期间带生态学研究──Ⅲ．群落结构

根据盐度、底质、潮流等环境生态因子及群落结构的差异，结合相似性比较及聚类分析，杭州湾潮间带生物群落可划分为三个类型：湾底群落、湾中群落和湾口群落。从湾底向湾口。群落多样性指数Ｈ＇（Ｓ），丰度ｄ值皆呈增大趋势，而优势度Ｄ值逐步减小，表明群落结构从湾底到湾。由简单趋向复杂。焦河篮蛤为杭州湾湾口潮间带底栖生物群落的特征种。     

Phytoplankton community structure in Otsuchi Bay,northeastern Japan,after the 2011 off the Pacific coast of Tohoku Earthquake and tsunami

The tsunami caused by the 2011 off the Pacific coast of Tohoku Earthquake seriously damaged the Pacific coast of northeastern Japan. In addition to its direct disturbance, a tsunami can indirectly affect coastal pelagic ecosystems via topographical and environmental changes. We investigated seasonal changes in the phytoplankton community structure in Otsuchi Bay, northeastern Japan, from May 2011, which was 2 months after the tsunami, to May 2013. The phytoplankton species composition in May 2011 was similar to that observed in May 2012 and 2013. The present results are consistent with the dominant species and water-mass indicator species of phytoplankton in past records. These results suggest that there was no serious effect of the tsunami on the phytoplankton community in Otsuchi Bay. Community analysis revealed that two distinct seasonal communities appeared in each year of the study period. The spring–summer community was characterized by warm-water Chaetoceros species, and dinoflagellates appeared from May to September. The fall–winter community was characterized by cold neritic diatoms, which appeared from November to March. The succession from the spring–summer community to the fall–winter community took place within a particular water mass, and the fall–winter community appeared in both the surface water and the Oyashio water mass, suggesting that water-mass exchange is not the only factor that determines the phytoplankton community structure in Otsuchi Bay.     

Temporal and spatial variation in the Nazaré Canyon (Western Iberian margin): Inter-annual and canyon heterogeneity effects on meiofauna biomass and diversity

The Nazaré Canyon on the Portuguese Margin (NE Atlantic) was sampled during spring-summer for three consecutive years (2005–2007), permitting the first inter-annual study of the meiofaunal communities at the Iberian Margin at two abyssal depths (~3500 m and ~4400 m). Using new and already published data, the meiofauna standing stocks (abundance and biomass) and nematode structural and functional diversity were investigated in relation to the sediment biogeochemistry (e.g. organic carbon, nitrogen, chlorophyll a, phaeopigments) and grain size. A conspicuous increase in sand content from 2005 to 2006 and decrease of phytodetritus at both sites, suggested the occurrence of one or more physical disturbance events. Nematode standing stocks and trophic diversity decreased after these events, seemingly followed by a recovery/recolonisation period in 2007, which was strongly correlated with an increase in the quantity and bioavailability of phytodetrital organic matter supplied. Changes in meiofauna assemblages, however, also differed between stations, likely because of the contrasting hydrodynamic and food supply conditions. Higher meiofauna and nematode abundances, biomass and trophic complexity were found at the shallowest canyon station, where the quantity, quality and bioavailability of food material were higher than at the deeper site. The present results suggest that even though inter-annual variations in the sedimentary environment can regulate the meiofauna in the abyssal Nazaré Canyon, heterogeneity between sampling locations in the canyon were more pronounced.     

Seasonal variation of molluscan assemblages in different strata of photophilous algae in the Alboran Sea (western Mediterranean)

The seasonal dynamics of molluscan assemblages inhabiting the algal fronds and the underlying sediment of photophilous algae were analyzed in NW Alboran Sea between July 2007 and April 2008. Molluscs were sampled using SCUBA in two different algal stands (7 km apart) dominated by the brown algae Stypocaulon scoparium, and following an inter-strata sampling protocol consisting in first sampling the algal fronds and then the underlying substratum. The studied algal stands harbored a highly biodiverse malacofauna, with 193 species identified. Assemblages on algal fronds and sediment displayed significant seasonal variations, being more apparent on the fronds, with maximum species richness, abundance and Shannon–Wiener diversity values in summer in both strata. The between-strata differences were also observed in the trophic structure of the assemblages: algal fronds were quantitatively dominated by microalgae or periphyton grazers and the sediment by detritivores and plankton and seston feeders. The high dominance of some species resulted in lower values of diversity and evenness in autumn in the sediment (e.g. Nodulus contortus and Bittium reticulatum) and in spring on the fronds (e.g. Rissoa guerinii and Musculus costulatus). The seasonal variability of the assemblages was mainly related to the population dynamics of dominant species (22 spp. displaying dominance values > 1%) (i.e. recruitment events, high mortality rates of juveniles and/or migrations among habitats). Other factors analyzed were (1) the vegetative cycle of algae, which played an important role in the abundance of some dominant epifaunal grazers, with high abundance and species richness values coinciding with high biomass of algae; and (2) the percentage of organic matter in the sediment, which was related to the abundance changes of some depositivores species. Further conservation strategies for macroalgal stands should be taken into consideration, as this type of photophilous habitat harbors rich associated faunistic communities and it is not generally considered in conservation lists of habitats to be protected.     

Effects of substratum type on fish assemblages in shallow areas of a tropical estuary

While there is already a comprehensive understanding of the effects of environmental variables, such as dissolved oxygen, temperature and salinity, on the structure, biomass and metabolism of aquatic biota in estuarine habitats, the effect of sedimentation, a harmful underlying factor, remains unclear. The aim of this study was to assess the differences in fish assemblages along the freshwater to salt water gradient of a large tropical estuary, and to evaluate the effects on them of habitat disturbance associated with shallow water sedimentation in the intertidal areas. Fish and environmental variables were recorded in the upper, middle and lower salinity zones of the estuary at ebb tide in both the dry and wet seasons. Sediment samples associated with different levels of habitat disturbance were analysed using granulometry, and their organic content and dissolved oxygen levels were quantified. Water temperature, salinity, pH and dissolved oxygen levels were also measured. Habitat disturbance was found to be correlated with the density, biomass and richness of fish assemblages. A total of 77 species were recorded, forming two distinct fish assemblages, with the Eleotridae family dominating in the upper zone, and Gerreidae, Gobiidae and Tetraodontidae the most common in the middle and lower estuary. Changes in the structure of fish assemblages, including reductions in density, biomass and richness, were associated with disturbance to natural features, where muddy sediment was replaced by sandy sediment and the quantity of organic matter fell. Atherinella brasiliensis was the species which showed a preference for the disturbed areas in the middle and lower zones, while Dormitator maculatus showed a preference for them in the upper estuary. They may be taken as indicators of habitat disturbance due to shallow sedimentation.