degree, occasional freshwater species, marine species,
either stragglers or migrants, and estuarine migrants. The
fish assemblages can be described in relation to biomass,
density, and number of species and the seasonal fluctuations of environmental variables (salinity, water temperature, and dissolved oxygen).
In tropical estuaries from the western Atlantic Ocean,
these variables change in the estuarine main channel and
intertidal mangrove forest at both high and low tides
(Barletta et al., 2010). The estuary then supports
a resident fish community that is functionally important
as an intermediate trophic level for many consumers.
The production and seasonal occurrence of fishes appear
to vary with salinity, hydrology, and nutrient status in the
estuary, all of which are controlled by both freshwater
flow and tide. Many species are adapted to these salinity
fluctuations and are resident within the estuarine habitats.
Others stay in the estuary only during a certain period of
their life and when conditions are appropriate. Estuaries
are frequently referred to as nursery areas for both fishes
and invertebrates (Beck et al., 2001).
Intertidal mangrove areas are also considered essential
nursery grounds for fish fauna and often include commercially important species (Morton, 1990; Laegdsgaard and
Johnson, 1995; Barletta et al., 2003). The northern Brazilian coast (tropical and humid) houses the largest continuous mangrove estuarine belt in the world and constitutes
56.6 % of the mangroves in South America (7,592 km
2
)
(Souza Filho, 2005). South of the mouth of the Amazon
River, more than 30 estuaries fringe $650 km of
mangrove-dominated coastline, and many fish species
use intertidal creeks for tidal migrations between mangrove habitats and adjacent subtidal areas, the main channel, and coastal waters (Barletta et al., 2010). This
connection between mangrove and adjacent estuarine
coastal habitats is an important function for fish and fisheries in coastal waters, providing nutrient support and
establishment of ecological functions for estuarine fish
assemblages. In order to protect natural resources, including fishes and fish habitats, decision makers need to plan
and implement national/regional conservation programs,
including the formation of conservation units (CU).
Summary
A fish assemblage is simply a suite of species whose individuals are collected in the same area and at the same time.
There are no strict limits on the spatial or temporal scale of
a fish assemblage (Miller, 2002). It is correct to speak of
the assemblage in a single season and region or at specific
times and locations. Research on fish assemblages has
sought to understand why they occur in the places and at
the times they do and how these spatial and temporal distributions relate to patterns in breeding, nursery area,
recruitment, and foraging. Understanding the roles and
relative importance to fish of different habitats within
estuaries is necessary for both effective management
and conservation (Elliott and Hemingway, 2002).
The information on estuarine fish community structure
and functioning is important to understanding the ecological services of estuaries and is also important to classify
and categorize estuarine fauna as an aid to understanding
and managing the effects of human activities on estuaries
(McLusky and Elliott, 2004; Elliott et al., 2007). Traditional fisheries have a long history and comprise part of
the human culture of estuarine communities. They may
also have a long-standing and complex interrelationship
with the environment and in the tropics and subtropics
have become part of the overall ecology (Blaber et al.,
2000). Implementing conservation strategies is essential
to protect natural resources, including fishes and fish
habitats.
Bibliography
Akin, S., Winemiller, K., and Gelwick, F. P., 2003. Seasonal and
spatial variations in fish and macrocrustacean assemblage structure in Mad Island Marsh estuary, Texas. Estuarine, Coastal and
Shelf Science, 5, 269–282.
Anganuzzi, A., 1983. Estructure de la comunidad de peces del a ´rea
costera bonaerense. MSc thesis, Argentina, Universidad
Nacional de Mar del Plata.
Araújo, F. G., and Azevedo, M. C. C., 2001. Assemblages of
southeast-south Brazilian coastal systems based on distribution
of fishes. Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science, 52, 729–738.
Barletta, M., and Blaber, S. J. M., 2007. Comparison of fish assemblage and guilds in tropical habitats of the Embley (Indo-West
Pacific) and Caeté (Western Atlantic) estuaries. Bulletin of
Marine Science, 80(3), 647–680.
Barletta, M., Saint-Paul, U., Barletta-Bergan, A., Ekau, W., and
Schories, D., 2000. Spatial and temporal distribution of
Myrophis punctatus (Ophichthidae) and associated fish fauna
in a Northern Brazilian intertidal mangrove forest.
Hydrobiologia, 426, 65–74.
Barletta, M., Barletta-Bergan, A., Saint-Paul, U., and Hubold, G.,
2003. Seasonal changes in density, biomass and diversity of
estuarine fishes in tidal mangrove creeks of the lower Caeté Estuary (Northern Brazilian Coast, east Amazon). Marine Ecology
Progress Series, 256, 217–228.
Barletta, M., Barletta-Bergan, A., Saint-Paul, U., and Hubold, G.,
2005. The role of salinity in structuring the fish assemblages in
a tropical estuary. Journal of Fish Biology, 66, 1–28.
Barletta, M., Amaral, C. S., Correa, M. F. M., Guebert, F., Dantas,
D. V., Lorenzi, L., and Saint-Paul, U., 2008. Factors affecting
seasonal variations in demersal fish assemblages at an ecocline
in a tropical\subtropical estuary. Journal of Fish Biology, 73,
1315–1336.
Barletta, M., Jaureguizar, A. J., Baigun, C., Fontoura, N. F.,
Agostinho, A. A., Almeida-Val, V., Val, A., Torres, R. A.,
Jimenes, L. F., Giarrizzo, T., Fabré, N. N., Batista, V.,
Lasso, C., Taphorn, D. C., Costa, M. F., Chaves, P. T.,
Vieira, J. P., and Corrêa, M. F. M., 2010. Fish and aquatic habitat
conservation in South America: a continental overview with
emphasis on Neotropical systems. Journal of Fish Biology, 76,
2118–2176.
Barletta-Bergan, A., Barletta, M., and Saint-Paul, U., 2002a. Structure and seasonal dynamics of larval and juvenile fish in the
mangrove-fringed estuary of the Rio Caeté in North Brazil. Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science, 56, 193–206.
Barletta-Bergan, A., Barletta, M., and Saint-Paul, U., 2002b. Community structure and temporal variability of Ichthyoplankton in
North Brazilian mangrove creeks. Journal of Fish Biology, 61,
33–51.
FISH ASSEMBLAGES
325
either stragglers or migrants, and estuarine migrants. The
fish assemblages can be described in relation to biomass,
density, and number of species and the seasonal fluctuations of environmental variables (salinity, water temperature, and dissolved oxygen).
In tropical estuaries from the western Atlantic Ocean,
these variables change in the estuarine main channel and
intertidal mangrove forest at both high and low tides
(Barletta et al., 2010). The estuary then supports
a resident fish community that is functionally important
as an intermediate trophic level for many consumers.
The production and seasonal occurrence of fishes appear
to vary with salinity, hydrology, and nutrient status in the
estuary, all of which are controlled by both freshwater
flow and tide. Many species are adapted to these salinity
fluctuations and are resident within the estuarine habitats.
Others stay in the estuary only during a certain period of
their life and when conditions are appropriate. Estuaries
are frequently referred to as nursery areas for both fishes
and invertebrates (Beck et al., 2001).
Intertidal mangrove areas are also considered essential
nursery grounds for fish fauna and often include commercially important species (Morton, 1990; Laegdsgaard and
Johnson, 1995; Barletta et al., 2003). The northern Brazilian coast (tropical and humid) houses the largest continuous mangrove estuarine belt in the world and constitutes
56.6 % of the mangroves in South America (7,592 km
2
)
(Souza Filho, 2005). South of the mouth of the Amazon
River, more than 30 estuaries fringe $650 km of
mangrove-dominated coastline, and many fish species
use intertidal creeks for tidal migrations between mangrove habitats and adjacent subtidal areas, the main channel, and coastal waters (Barletta et al., 2010). This
connection between mangrove and adjacent estuarine
coastal habitats is an important function for fish and fisheries in coastal waters, providing nutrient support and
establishment of ecological functions for estuarine fish
assemblages. In order to protect natural resources, including fishes and fish habitats, decision makers need to plan
and implement national/regional conservation programs,
including the formation of conservation units (CU).
Summary
A fish assemblage is simply a suite of species whose individuals are collected in the same area and at the same time.
There are no strict limits on the spatial or temporal scale of
a fish assemblage (Miller, 2002). It is correct to speak of
the assemblage in a single season and region or at specific
times and locations. Research on fish assemblages has
sought to understand why they occur in the places and at
the times they do and how these spatial and temporal distributions relate to patterns in breeding, nursery area,
recruitment, and foraging. Understanding the roles and
relative importance to fish of different habitats within
estuaries is necessary for both effective management
and conservation (Elliott and Hemingway, 2002).
The information on estuarine fish community structure
and functioning is important to understanding the ecological services of estuaries and is also important to classify
and categorize estuarine fauna as an aid to understanding
and managing the effects of human activities on estuaries
(McLusky and Elliott, 2004; Elliott et al., 2007). Traditional fisheries have a long history and comprise part of
the human culture of estuarine communities. They may
also have a long-standing and complex interrelationship
with the environment and in the tropics and subtropics
have become part of the overall ecology (Blaber et al.,
2000). Implementing conservation strategies is essential
to protect natural resources, including fishes and fish
habitats.
Bibliography
Akin, S., Winemiller, K., and Gelwick, F. P., 2003. Seasonal and
spatial variations in fish and macrocrustacean assemblage structure in Mad Island Marsh estuary, Texas. Estuarine, Coastal and
Shelf Science, 5, 269–282.
Anganuzzi, A., 1983. Estructure de la comunidad de peces del a ´rea
costera bonaerense. MSc thesis, Argentina, Universidad
Nacional de Mar del Plata.
Araújo, F. G., and Azevedo, M. C. C., 2001. Assemblages of
southeast-south Brazilian coastal systems based on distribution
of fishes. Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science, 52, 729–738.
Barletta, M., and Blaber, S. J. M., 2007. Comparison of fish assemblage and guilds in tropical habitats of the Embley (Indo-West
Pacific) and Caeté (Western Atlantic) estuaries. Bulletin of
Marine Science, 80(3), 647–680.
Barletta, M., Saint-Paul, U., Barletta-Bergan, A., Ekau, W., and
Schories, D., 2000. Spatial and temporal distribution of
Myrophis punctatus (Ophichthidae) and associated fish fauna
in a Northern Brazilian intertidal mangrove forest.
Hydrobiologia, 426, 65–74.
Barletta, M., Barletta-Bergan, A., Saint-Paul, U., and Hubold, G.,
2003. Seasonal changes in density, biomass and diversity of
estuarine fishes in tidal mangrove creeks of the lower Caeté Estuary (Northern Brazilian Coast, east Amazon). Marine Ecology
Progress Series, 256, 217–228.
Barletta, M., Barletta-Bergan, A., Saint-Paul, U., and Hubold, G.,
2005. The role of salinity in structuring the fish assemblages in
a tropical estuary. Journal of Fish Biology, 66, 1–28.
Barletta, M., Amaral, C. S., Correa, M. F. M., Guebert, F., Dantas,
D. V., Lorenzi, L., and Saint-Paul, U., 2008. Factors affecting
seasonal variations in demersal fish assemblages at an ecocline
in a tropical\subtropical estuary. Journal of Fish Biology, 73,
1315–1336.
Barletta, M., Jaureguizar, A. J., Baigun, C., Fontoura, N. F.,
Agostinho, A. A., Almeida-Val, V., Val, A., Torres, R. A.,
Jimenes, L. F., Giarrizzo, T., Fabré, N. N., Batista, V.,
Lasso, C., Taphorn, D. C., Costa, M. F., Chaves, P. T.,
Vieira, J. P., and Corrêa, M. F. M., 2010. Fish and aquatic habitat
conservation in South America: a continental overview with
emphasis on Neotropical systems. Journal of Fish Biology, 76,
2118–2176.
Barletta-Bergan, A., Barletta, M., and Saint-Paul, U., 2002a. Structure and seasonal dynamics of larval and juvenile fish in the
mangrove-fringed estuary of the Rio Caeté in North Brazil. Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science, 56, 193–206.
Barletta-Bergan, A., Barletta, M., and Saint-Paul, U., 2002b. Community structure and temporal variability of Ichthyoplankton in
North Brazilian mangrove creeks. Journal of Fish Biology, 61,
33–51.
FISH ASSEMBLAGES
325