Ink Invertebratesk ClassificationM Evolution and Biodiversity ISBNk TjG-x-UóUxG-jGT-DEditork Rafael Riosmena-Rodriguez © óéxá Nova Science PublishersM Inc/

Chapter 9

Biodiversity Associated to SargassumForest at the Gulf of California

Alvin Noé Suarez-Castillo1,2, Rafael Riosmena-Rodriguez2,Gustavo Hernandez-Carmona1, María del Carmen Méndez-Trejo1,

Juan Manuel López-Vivas1, Carlos Sánchez-Ortiz3,María Mónica Lara-Uc1 and Jorge Torre-Cosio4

xCICIMAR-IPNM Playa de Santa Rita sLnM La PazM MéxicoóPrograma de Investigación en Botánica MarinaM

áDept/ Biol/ Mar/M Universidad Autónoma de Baja California SurMCarretera al SurM La PazM México/

DComunidad y Biodiversidad Calle Isla del PeruanoMColonia Lomas de MiramarM GuaymasM SonoraM México

Abstract

The Sargassum forests are one of the most characteristic and critical habitats forconservation in the rocky shores at the Gulf of California/ ThereforeM it is necessary toknow more about the associated populations/ The study was carried out in óééG in fivelocalities around La Paz BayM México/ The biodiversity associated with sub-tidalSargassum forest was monitored by applying a modification of the NaGISA rocky shoreprotocol/ The richness of fish species was estimated for long of transects of pé m/ Thecover percent of the biotic and abiotic component of substrateM the composition ofepibenthic invertebrates and the richness of macroalgae species were estimated inside ofx mó quadrantsM and the density 3thalli numberP and size of Sargassum were estimatedinside Uóp cmó quadrants/ The substrate was composed principally of rockM Sargassumand other seaweeds/ In totalM ój species of fishesM óá species of macroalgaeM áG species ofmacro epibenthic and xj micro epibenthic invertebrates were registered/ Differences inspecies composition of macroalgae associated with Sargassum forests were observedbetween the locality El Saladito and The Sauzoso/ During the studyM the size ofSargassum showed temporal variation suggesting growth differences/ The total numberof epibenthic invertebrates found was Uáá 3mean q á/j individualsLmóPM which were

A3 N3 S3-Castillo] R3 R3-Rodriguez] G3 H3-Carmona et al385)

classified into six taxaB the Cnidaria was the most abundant3 The cover percent ofsubstrate components] the community structure of fauna and morphometric variables ofthe algae showed a spatial-temporal variation3 The results show the baseline that can beobtained] which in turn will provide the information necessary to understand theecological role of these brown algae for the maintenance of biodiversity and thecommunity-associated changes3 Sargassum forest is a critical habitat for conservation inthe Gulf of California because it is sensitive to environmental and human-inducedimpacts3 Their role in coastal areas is related to species recruitment] the fixation of CO8and drift material] which are extremely important to sandy beach stability and foodsources for insects from terrestrial environments3 Sargassum forest comprise a relevantnear shore ecosystem where species related to fisheries] protected species and those withhigh biodiversity treat it as a refuge There are several fisheries related who are close tothis ecosystem and legal protection does not exist to protect this critical habitat forconservation in the Gulf of California3

Introduction

The presence of biological substrates in marine rocky areas] including communities ofmacrophytes have great influence on the organisation and development of the biologicalcommunity [7]3 This is because that diversifies the range of space resources that can be used]increases the area available for colonisation by sessile species and provides a refuge frompredators and unfavourable environmental conditions [8]3 In the temperate and subtropicalwaters] the species of the genus Sargassum dominates in coverage and biomass over otheralgae] forming large forests ranging from a few meters to several hectares [E] (]3 These forestsform a secondary substrate for surrounding communities] such as epiphytes [9]] epifauna [)]]epibentic invertebrates [D] and fish [j]3 Even Sargassum has been recognised as a criticalhabitat for the establishment and development of some of their associated species Oe3g3Shrimps and fishB [M] 75] E5]k3

In the rocky sub-tidal Gulf of California] species of the genus Sargassum have beenestablished as the most important and conspicuous components of the phycoflora [D]3 In the7MM5s] about 7]97M ha of the west coast of the Gulf was estimated to be covered bySargassum] making a total biomass of 7j5]D77 wet tons [E] 77] 78]3 Despite that] in the Gulfof California there is a gap of information on the faunal groups associated with Sargassum

forests and their ecological importance in coastal areas] because most of the research has beendirected toward understanding Sargassum as an organism OautoecologyB [7E]7(]79]k and itspotential uses [7D]7j]7M]85]3 Therefore] the objective of this research was to provideinformation on the biodiversity associated with these coastal communities of Sargassum

forests from the Gulf of California] using the sampling protocol proposed by NaGISAOCensus of Marine Lifek [8(]3

Materials and Methods

Bahia de La Paz is a wide body of water in the south-western part of the Gulf ofCalifornia [87] 88]] which is M5 km long and )5 km wide with an approximate area of (]955km8 [88]B it has a semi-elliptic form with the main axis orientated north-northeast-south-

Biodiversity Associated to Sargassum Forest at the Gulf of California (:7

southeast and geographical limits to the west and south by land4 to the east by Espiritu SantoIsland and in the north by the Gulf of California [(Q]P The bay has ( mouths4 where the waterflows with a semidiurnal tidal change [(Q4 ((]P In the south-eastern part of the bay there is acoastal lagoon protected by a sandy bar [(Q4 ((]P Into this lagoon most of the freshwaterrunoff flows4 and is also communicated to the ocean with a channel between the sandy barand the continent [((]P Upwellings are present in the communication channels that form themouths in the bay at the north and south [((]4 but nutrients appear in pulses in general[()]PTemperature and salinity fluctuate seasonally in relation to the major water massespresent [4Q]P The study was conducted in sub-tidal Sargassum forests located in five locationsin the Bay of La Paz: The Quelele4 The Sauzoso4 The Saladito4 Punta Coyote and Botafuego-Figure QUP

Figure QP Location of study sites for the spatio-temporal variation of epifauna associated withSargassum forestsP

–U NU SU-CastilloJ RU RU-RodriguezJ GU HU-Carmona et alUkxq

– database since kxxx has been developed for this area for monitoring purposesU Thesites were chosen based on a similarity in the type of substrate 1boulders5 and the depth atwhich Sargassum forests were 1IU]-[U] m deep5U The sampling was carried out on a monthlybasis from March to June kxxF by SCUB– divingJ except for the month of May due tologistical problemsU The proposed methodology for estimating the biodiversity associatedwith Sargassum forests is based on the sampling protocol NaGIS– for marine rocky areas[k4]U

The basic protocol was adjusted in order to meet the goal of implementation in thishabitatJ as described belowU We recorded in situ the composition of fish swimming ]x cmfrom the bottom and along two transects of ]x m 1three transects in –pril5J distributed in themiddle and along 1parallel to the coastline5 the forestU –long the transect we conducted a totalof ] groups of quadrantsJ one placed every Ix mU This consisted of a quadrant of I x I m andanother of k] x k] cm 1Figure k5U The percent cover of biotic and biotic components on thesubstrate and the composition of epibenthic invertebrates 1number of species and abundances5visible 1; k cm5 were recorded within the I mk quadrantU

In the quadrant of jk] cmkJ the density 1number of branches5 and size of Sargassum wasrecorded 1a total of [x thalliJ [ thalli per quadrant5U The different components of the substrateJthe composition of epibenthic invertebrates and the size of Sargassum were recorded fromMarch to JuneU The composition of fish and macroalgae was recorded in JuneJ and Sargassum

density was recorded from –pril to JuneU In the case of epibenthic invertebratesJ colonialorganisms 1eUgU CoralsJ sea fans and sea pens5 were counted as an individualU

Figure kU –U Sargassum forest layout> hereJ a ]x m transects are shown with ] replicates 1each with onecomplete quadrant set5U The transects 1second transect is not shown5 were localised in the middle part ofSargassum forestU BU Sargassum forest transectBquadrant set> record the richness of fishes in the ]x mtransects6 record the percentage coverage of substrate componentsBindividual number of visible 1; kcm5epibenthic invertebrates in the I mk quadrant6 record of densityBsize of Sargassum in the jk] cmkU

In the case of the epifaunaJ we used samples taken from September kxxx to –ugust kxxI1except October and December because of logistical problems5 using SCUB– at q permanentsites marked with cement blocks between F>xx am to Ik>xx am at k–kU] depthU

To sample the micro invertebratesJ we sampled entire plants taken in a k] cm x k] cmquadrantJ where all of the Sargassum plants were collected from the holdfast to ensure

Biodiversity Associated to Sargassum Forest at the Gulf of California 1:z

representative samples and8 avoiding loose water8 stored in plastic bags that were used to fixthe material with formalin at )O and transported to the laboratoryT

Once in the laboratory8 the mobile animals were segregated filtering the samples with thehelp of freshwater into a mesh of :TM mmP the organisms fixed to the thalli were picked upwith pincersT All of the animals were placed in individual containers and transferred to J:Oalcohol for identification using the keys of [1M8 1-8 1J8 1E8 1z]T

The organisms observed were photographed and identified in situT In some cases8 it wasnecessary to collect the organism for identification at the lowest possible taxonomic levelT

The identification was made using specialised texts for each of the groups in the regionLfish [(38 (1]8 epibenthic invertebrates [1M8 ((8 ()8 (M8 (-8 (J8 (E] and macroalgae [(z]T

Results

In the Sargassum forests8 the percentage of coverage of different biotic and abioticcomponents that make up the substrate changed during the study period kFigure (7T

At baseline kMarch78 Sargassum was the biotic component with the lowest percentage ofcoverage compared with other components8 as were the bare rock krock7 and other algaeT Inthe following months kApril-June78 Sargassum had the highest percentage of coveragecompared to other biotic and abiotic components8 except for El Sauzoso in JuneT Spatially8there was also a variation in the percentage of recovery of biotic and abiotic components ofthe substrate kFigure (7T Sargassum was the biological component that showed the greatestpercentage of coverage8 while abiotic substrates8 like rocks and sand8 had a higher percentageof coverage in comparison with other biological substrates keTgT Porites panamensis,

Phragmatopoma californica8 among others7T

Figure (T Spatial-temporal variation of the percent coverage of substrate components inside Sargassumforests at La Paz BayT AL March8 BL April8 CL JuneT

AP NP SP-Castilloj RP RP-Rodriguezj GP HP-Carmona et alPF3L

Biodiversity Associated to Sargassum Forest

Fish. A total of FU fish species belonging to six orders and 3U families were observedamong Sargassum forests in June FLLD (Table 3TP It was common to see juveniles ofMycteroperca rosacea and Paralabrax maculatofasciatusj adult Balistes polylepsis andAbudefduf troschelii and individuals of endemic species in the Gulf of Californiaj such asStegastes rectifraenumP The most diverse family was the Pomacentridae with Z speciesjfollowed by the family Labridae and Serranidae with M species each (Figure ZATP

Table 1A Species composition of fish associated with Sargassum forests at La Paz BayATrophic Functional Group OTFGR is presented along with their importanceA Zoob:

zoobentivorous/ Zoop: zooplanktivorous/ Herb: herbivorous/ Pisci: piscivorous/ Omni:omnivorous/ Oppo: opportunistic/ FR: national fishery resource/ OE: ornamental

species/ E: species endemic to Gulf of California

OrderMFamily Species TFG ImportanceAnguilliformesMuraenidae Muraena lentiginosa ZoobAulopiformesSynodontidae Synodus evermanni ZoobMugiliformesMugilidae Mugil sppP Herb FRPerciformesChaetodontidae Chaetodon humeralis Omni OSCirrithidae Cirrithus rivulatus ZoobGerreidae Gerres cinereus Omni FRHaemulidae Haemulon maculicauda Zoob FR

Haemulon sexfasciatum Zoob FRLutjanidae Hoplopagrus guentherii Zoob FRj OSLabridae Halichoeres dispilus Oppo OS

Halichoeres notospilus ZoobThalassoma lucasanum Zoob OS

Labrisomidae Labrisomus xanti ZoobPomacanthidae Holacanthus passer Omni OS

Pomacanthus zonipectus Omni OSPomacentridae Abudefduf troschelii Zoop

Stegastes rectifraenum Omni OSj EStegastes flavilatus Omni OSStegastes acapulcoensis Omni

Serranidae Epinephelus labriformis Zoob FRMycteroperca rosacea Pisci FRParalabrax maculatofasciatus Zoob FR

RajiformesUrolophidae Urobatis concentricus ZoobTetraodontiformesBalistidae Balistes polylepsis Zoob FR

Pseudobalistes naufragium ZoobDiodontidae Diodon histrix ZoobTetraodontidae Canthigaster punctatissima Zoob FR

Biodiversity Associated to Sargassum Forest at the Gulf of California 211

The relative importance of trophic functional groups 3Figure 4B% indicated that the mostimportant group is that of zoobentivoresE which represented 59x35 of species 316 species%Efollowed far behind with 25x95 omnivores 37 species%E while the rest of the groups had avalue of 3x75 31 species%x The study site that presented the greatest richness of fish was ElSaladito 318 species%x Haemulon maculicauda was the only species observed in all five of thestudied localitiesE and only five species were observed between 3 and 4 locations 3Table 2%x

Table 2. Species composition of fish associated with Sargassum forests in the fivelocalities of study at La Paz Bay: Botafuego (B), Punta Coyote (PC), El Saladito (ESl),

El Sauzoso (ESz), El Quelele (EQ). x: present, blank space: absent

Species B PC ESl ESz EQMuraena lentiginosa xSynodus evermanni xMugil sppx x xChaetodon humeralis x xCirrithus rivulatus xGerres cinereus x xHaemulon maculicauda x x x x xHaemulon sexfasciatum x x xHoplopagrus guentherii xHalichoeres dispilus x xHalichoeres notospilus xThalassoma lucasanum x x xLabrisomus xanti x xHolacanthus passer x xPomacanthus zonipectus xAbudefduf troschelii x xStegastes rectifraenum x x xStegastes flavilatus x xStegastes acapulcoensis xEpinephelus labriformis x x xMycteroperca rosacea xParalabraxmaculatofasciatus x xUrobatis concentricus xBalistes polylepsis x xPseudobalistes naufragium x xDiodon histrix x x x xCanthigaster punctatissima x

Total fish taxa 11 7 18 10 7

A4 N4 S4-Castilloq R4 R4-Rodriguezq G4 H4-Carmona et al4898

Table 8E Species composition of epibenthic invertebrates associated with Sargassumforests at La Paz BayE MobilityZ Trophic Functional Group OTFGD and their importance

is presentE ? and blank space: no information publishedZ S: sessileZ M: mobileZP: pivotingZ Filt: filter feedingZ Oppo: opportunisticZ Detr: detritivorousZ Cora:

corallivorousZ Bioe: bioerosionatorZ Herb: herbivorousZ Omni: omnivorousZ Zoob:zoobentivorousZ FR: national fishery resourceZ OE: ornamental species

Epibenthic invertebrates. Thirty eight taxa of epibenthic invertebrate were sampledqgrouped into six phyla )Table FI4 In the 9P5 quadrants sampled )9P5 m8I during the studyperiodq ?FF epibenthic invertebrates were quantified )average F4P individuals m-8I4

The most abundant phylum according to their relative abundance were the Cnidaria withM54?w )8OP individualsIq followed by the rest of the taxa with a relative abundance no greaterthan 9B4Pw )Table MI4 The taxa that grouped the greatest number of species were echinoderms)98 speciesIq cnidarians )95 speciesI and molluscs )D speciesq Table MI4

Phylum/Class Species Mobility TFG ImportanceAnnelida Bispira rugosa monterea S Filt

Phragmatopoma californica S FiltSpirobranchus giganteus S Filt

Crustacea Neaxius vivesi Mq S OppoDardanus sinistrepes M ?Balanus sp4 S FiltHermit crab ? ? ?

Cnidaria Anemone sp4 9 S FiltAnemone sp4 8 S FiltAnemone sp4 F S FiltAnemone sp4 M S FiltCalliactis variegata Sq P FiltEugorgia spp4 S Filt OSPacifigorgia sp4 S FiltPocillopora spp4 S FiltPorites panamensis S Filt

Hydrozoa Aglaophenia spp4 S FiltEchinodermata Nidorellia armata M ? OS

Phataria unifascialis M Detr OSAcanthaster planci M CoraEucidaris thouarsii M Bioe OSArbacia incisa M OmniTripneustes depressus M HerbEchinometra vanbruntii M Bioe FRq POOphiocoma aethiops M OmniOphiotrix spiculata M OmniOphionereis annulata M ?Holothuria kerfersteinii M ?Isostichopus fuscus M Detr FRq PO

Mollusca Conus spp4 M ?Elysia diomedea M ?Serpulorbis euriciformis S FiltPhyllonotus erythrostoma M Zoob FRSnail sp4 9 M ? ?Modiolus capax S Filt FRPinctada mazatlanica S Filt FRq POAtrina maura S Filt FR

Porifera Sponge sp4 9 ? Filt ? Total of Taxa 88

Biodiversity Associated to Sargassum Forest at the Gulf of California 9=5

Table 5= Density Jnumber of individuals/m2g of epibenthic invertebrates associated withSargassum forests at La Paz Bay= Blank space: locality not sampledS M: MarchS A:

April; J: June

In the 8N sampled quadrants of 695 cm9) we found 949)654 individuals throughout theentire studyH The proportion per group indicated that the crustaceans were the best representedb774() followed by molluscs b=64() and plathelmintha b44() with other taxa under =4bFigure 6(H However) once we evaluated the dominant taxa bcrustacean and molluscs( wefound that Amphipods accounted for more than half of the specimens in all of the samplesfollowed by copepods and gastropods and the rest of the taxa were below 4H34 bFigure 6( ofthe total abundanceH No spatial differences were found among quadrants bHb7) =36N( = 7H4) p =NH4() and the abundance ranged from 9369 individuals to 3564 individuals) with the highest

Botafuego Punta Coyote El Saladito El Sauzoso El Quelele

n = =N =5 =N =5 =5 =N =N =5 =N =N =5 =N =5 =NSpecies M A J M A J M A J M A J M A J

Bispira rugosa monterea NHN NHN NH= NHN NH3 NH3 NHN NH4 NH= NH= =H9 NH3 NH= NPhragmatopoma californica NHN NHN N NH5 NH9 9H8 NH9 NH5 N NHN NH= N NHN NSpirobranchus giganteus NHN NHN N NHN NH4 N NH7 NH= N NHN NHN N NHN NNeaxius vivesi NH5 NHN N NH5 NH3 N NHN NH3 NH= NH3 =H= NH7 NH= NDardanus sinistrepes NHN NH= N NHN NHN NH4 NHN NHN NH= NHN NH= N NHN NBalanus spH NHN NH= N NH= NHN N NHN NHN N NH= NH9 N NHN NHermit crab NH9 NHN N NH= NHN NH= NH9 NH3 N NHN NHN N NHN NAnemone spH = NHN NHN N NHN NHN N NHN NHN N NHN NHN NH= NHN NAnemone spH 9 NHN NHN N NHN NHN N NHN NH= N NHN NHN N NH= NAnemone spH 3 NHN NHN N NHN NHN N NHN NHN N NH6 NH= N NHN NAnemone spH 4 NHN NHN NH9 NHN NHN N NH= NHN N NHN NHN N NHN NH=Calliactis variegata NHN NH7 N NHN NHN 9H5 NHN NHN NH3 NHN NH3 N NHN NEugorgia sppH NHN NHN N NHN =H3 NH8 NHN NHN NH8 NHN NHN N NHN NPacifigorgia spH NHN NHN N NH= NH= N NHN NHN N NHN NHN N NHN NPocillopora sppH NHN NH= NH= NHN NH4 NH= NHN NHN N NHN NHN N NHN NPorites panamensis NH7 9H7 9 NH= =H9 NH9 NH= NHN N NH5 9H6 NH6 NHN NAglaophenia sppH NH3 NHN N NHN NHN N NHN NHN N NHN NHN N NHN NNidorellia armata NHN NHN N NHN NHN N NHN NH= N NHN NHN NH= NHN NPhataria unifascialis NHN NHN N NHN NH9 NH= NHN NHN NH9 NHN NHN N NHN NAcanthaster planci NHN NHN NH= NHN NHN N NHN NHN N NHN NHN N NHN NEucidaris thouarsii NHN NH= NH8 NHN NHN N NH= NHN N NHN NH4 NH= NHN NArbacia incisa NHN NH9 NH5 NHN NHN N NHN NHN N NH= NH= NH3 NH= NTripneustes depressus NHN NH= NH= NHN NHN N NH= NHN N NH9 NH= NH9 NHN NEchinometra vanbruntii NHN NHN N NHN NHN N NHN NHN N NH4 NH4 N NHN NOphiocoma aethiops NHN NHN N NHN NHN N NH= NH= N NHN NH4 N NHN NOphiotrix spiculata NHN NHN N NHN NHN N NHN NHN N NHN NHN NH= NHN NOphionereis annulata NHN NHN N NHN NHN N NHN NH= N NHN NH3 N NHN NHolothuria kerfersteinii NHN NHN N NHN NHN N NHN NH= N NH= NH= N NHN NIsostichopus fuscus NHN NHN N NHN NH= N NHN NHN N NHN NHN N NHN NConus sppH NHN NHN N NHN NHN N NH= NHN N NHN NHN N NHN NElysia diomedea NHN NHN N NHN NHN N =H9 NH= N NH3 NH9 N NH5 =H3Serpulorbis euriciformis NHN NH= N NH= NH= N NH= NH= N NHN NH= N NHN NPhyllonotus erythrostoma NH= NHN N NHN NHN N NHN NHN N NHN NHN N NHN NSnail spH = NH9 NH4 N NHN NH4 N NH9 NH= N NHN NHN N NH= NModiolus capax NHN NHN N NHN NHN N NHN NH= N NHN NHN N NHN NPinctada mazatlanica NHN NHN N NHN NH= NH= NHN NHN N NHN NH= NH= NHN NAtrina maura NHN NHN N NHN NHN N NHN NHN N NHN NH= N NHN NSponge spH = NH= NHN N NHN NHN N NHN NHN N NHN NHN N NHN N

Biodiversity Associated to Sargassum Forest at the Gulf of California 8Mz

We have found strong temporal differences in the relative abundance -Figure zH6 but notin the species composition6 which was consistent over time= The Kruskal-Wallis analysisshowed significant differences between the months in the richness -H-P6 M;ExH = 8zU=z6 p =x=xxxH with a consistent species richness trend in the sampling period= The maximal speciesabundance were observed in March -Lx8U individuals; Figure zH and the minimum in August-September -M4L individuals and ;4U individuals6 respectivelyH=

Using the multiple comparison analysis of the probability6 we found a consistent trendrather than abundance trends= When the abundance increased -September to AprilH6 thedifferences in the values became significant=

Figure z= Monthly variation in the epifauna abundance -number of individuals log transformedHassociated with Sargassum forests in El Sauzoso6 BCS= Mean -�H; standard error-ver tical linesH=

Figure L= Spatial variation of the richness of macroalgae phyla associated with Sargassum forests at LaPaz Bay=

Sep Nov Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug

Month

0.4

0.6

0.8

1.0

1.2

1.4

1.6

1.8

2.0

Lo

g(A

bu

nd

ance

+ 1

)

AP NP SP-Castillo7 RP RP-Rodriguez7 GP HP-Carmona et alPx68

Seaweeds. In June xEE97 a total of xF species of macroalgae7 grouped in F phyla werefound living among Sargassum forests vTable 7(P The most common species observed in thecespitosa layer below the canopy were species of the genus Sargassum7 Padina7 Dictyota

flabellata7 Ulva lactuca7 Hydroclathrus clathrahrtus and Codium cuneatumP The phylumRhodophyta vred algae( was the most diverse7 with 6F species7 followed by the phylaChlorophyta vgreen algae( and Phaeophyta vbrown algae( with five species in eachPDifferences in species composition of macroalgae associated with Sargassum forests wereobserved between the locality El Saladito and The Sauzoso vTable 6(P

Table 7. Species composition of macroalgae associated with Sargassum forests at La PazBay. x: present, blank space: absent

At both sites7 red algae comprised the most diverse taxon vnumber of species(7 followedby brown and green algae with fewer species7 respectively vFigure 6(P

Phylum/Species El Saladito El SausozoChlorophytaCladohora columbiana xCodium cuneatum xEnteromorpha spP xHalicystis ovalis xUlva lactuca xPhaeophytaDictyota flabellata x xHydroclathrus clathrathrus xPadina mexicana xPadina caulescens x xSargassum horridum x xRodophytaAmphiroa valonioides x xAntithamnionella elegans xCentroceras clavulatum xDigenea simplex xGracilaria crispata x xGracilaria pachydermatica x xHypnea cervicornis xLaurencia sppP xLiagora californica xNeogonolithon sppP xPrionitis kinoensis xPterocladia spP xSpiridia filamentosa x x

Total of taxa 69 66

Liodiversity 3ssociated to Sargassum 9orest at the Kulf of Ralifornia 557

Conclusion

The Sargassum forest is a critical habitat for conservation in the Kulf of Raliforniabecause the habitat is sensitive to environmental and human-induced impactsN Their role incoastal areas are related to species recruitmentj fixation of RO5 and drift materialj which areextremely important to sandy beach stability and food sources for insects from terrestrialenvironmentsN There are several fisheries related who are close to this ecosystemj and legalprotection does not exist to protect this critical habitat for conservation in the Kulf ofRaliforniaN

Acknowledgments

We are grateful to several Marine Liology students of the Programa de Jnvestigación enLotánica Marina at the Universidad 3utónoma de Laja Ralifornia SurN Méxicoj for helping atthe field tripsN This research was founded through JPN ISJP-500k0k”5ó and NaKJS3“Sargassum forest associated biodiversity from Kulf of Ralifornia”N Kustavo YR thanks to“Romisión de Operación y 9omento de 3ctividades 3cadémicas del JPN IRO933ó” and tothe program “Vstímulo al 6esempeño de los Jnvestigadores del JPN IV6Jó” for the fellowshipgrantedN

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[Ly] W0 Yspinoza-jvalosv and x0 Rodríguez-qarza 6LPDÁJ0 Ciencias Marinasv LL6áJv LLÁ-LVó0

[LÁ] M0 Muñeton-qómezv 6LPDPJ0 Investigaciones Marinas CICIMARv y 6VJv VÁh-VII0[LI] R0j0 Nuñez-Lópezv and M0M0 Tasas-Valdezv 6LPPIJ0 Revista de Biología Tropicalv yy

6VJv yÁÁ-yIy0[Lh] q0 xernández-Tarmonav 6LPDÁJ0 Investigaciones Marinas CICIMARv V 6LJv áó-yÁ0[LD] Marínv M0v S0 Tarrillov x0 xernándezv and j0 Monroy 6VóóáJ0 Cuban Journal of

Agricola Sciencev áh 6VJv LLP-LVá0[LP] M0 Tasas-Valdezv x0 xernández-Tontrerasv j0 Marín-Álvarezv R0N0 Águila-Ramírezv

T0W0 xernández-querrerov F0 Sánchez-Rodríguezv and S0 Tarrillo-Komínguezv 6VóóIaJ0Revista de Biología Tropical, 54 (LJv Dá-PV0

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Oceanografíav yL 6LJv Ph-LóÁ0[VL] j0R0 Wiménez Fllescas M0 Obeso Nieblasv and K0j0 Salas de León 6LPPhJ0Oceanografía

física de la :ahía de La Pazv :0T0S00 La :ahía de La Pazv Fnvestigación y Tonservación06W0 Urban-Ramírez and Mauricio Ramírezv eds0J0 Universidad jutónoma de :ajaTalifornia Surv Tentro Fnterdisciplinario de Tiencias Marinasv Scripps0

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Ydition0 University of jrizona Pressv jrizonav ÁLá pp0[VD] S0F0 Salazarv W0j0 Ke Leónv and x0 Salaicesv 6LPDDJ Poliquetos 6jnnelidak PolychaetaJ

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