Title: Toward an acknowledgement of the demersal fish assemblages and its diversity in Yucatan Shelf and Channel

Biography:

Maria Eugenia Vega-Cendejas is a biologist graduated from the Faculty of Sciences, UNAM. She obtained a Master's degree in Sciences (Biology) in 1983, being distinguished by the Gabino Barreda Silver Medal at the end of her studies. In March of 1998 she has received the degree of Doctor in Sciences (Biology) in the same Faculty. Currently, her research has focused on the demersal communities of the Yucatan Platform and Canal, as well as the deepwater zone of the Gulf of Mexico. She has graduated six students at doctoral level, 17 of Master and 14 of bachelor degree. She has coordinated 26 Research Projects on structure and function (trophic weft) of the fish community in various coastal ecosystems and protected areas of the Yucatan Peninsula. She has also participated in service projects with the objective of evaluate the environmental quality and health status of the Gulf of Mexico. She has presented papers in 107 national and international congresses, has 37 publications in indexed journals, thirteen chapters of books, fiven memoirs in congresses and four books that contribute to the knowledge of the ichthyofauna in the region. She is a member of the National System of Investigators (level II), member of the Mexican Academy of Sciences and is part of the evaluation committee of several specialized journals and member evaluator of CONACYT.

Abstract

During two oceanographic campaigns (November 2015; August 2016) with 18 sampling stations (shrimp trawl net), it was determined the spatial variation and with respect to depth gradient of the demersal fish community in the Yucatan Platform and Channel. Spatially, three group of stations were stablished in base of latitude and two considering depth (<100, 101-200 m). The ecological parameters, dominant species, spatial and causal associations of the species with the environmental variables (temperature, salinity, depth, organic carbon) were estimated. A total of 161 species were recorded (27 orders and 52 families), with Syacium papillosum as dominant due to its high biomass (10.3%), relative density (11.7%) and occurrence. It was followed in representativeness by Haemulon aurolineatum, Eucinostomus gula and Upeneus parvus. By means of multivariate analysis, no inter-annual change in the fish assemblages was detected, however among group of stations and by depth gradient, significant differences were found. Canonical Correspondence Analysis showed that depth gradient was the principal factor through which community structure changes. Results obtained contribute to the knowledge of this great ecosystem’s biodiversity and reflect that is in good health, considering species richness and abundance.