Fish feeding guilds in shallow rocky and soft bottom areas on the Swedish west coast

Multivariate analyses of the diet relationships within fish assemblages resulted in the recognition of five major feeding guilds in shallow (0-9 m) rocky- and soft-bottom habitats on the Swedish west coast. The two habitats had similar guilds that could be broadly described as piscivores, decapod feeders, copepod feeders and amphipod and mollusc feeders. The last guild on the rocky bottom was more strictly one of amphipod feeders, whereas the last guild on soft bottoms consisted of infauna feeders (mainly polychaetes and bivalves). A comparison of the diet of the entire fish assemblages showed that amphipods and gastropods were more prevalent as prey taxa on rocky bottoms, whereas bivalves and teleosts were more common on soft bottoms. A large proportion (12 out of 27 species) of the fish species investigated was found in both habitats. These fish species generally seemed to rely on the same major prey groups in the two habitats, but also included prey taxa characteristic for the habitat in which they resided. Sea trout Salmo trutta , mackerel Scombrus scombrus , saithe Pollachius virens , whiting Merlangius merlangus and cod Gadus morhua were found to be the major piscivores in both the investigated habitats. Herring Clupea harengus and members of the family gobiidae were the most prevalent prey species for piscivores within the rocky- as well as the soft-bottom fish assemblage. A comparison of feeding modes suggested that the fish assemblage on rocky bottoms predominantly (60% of the food items) relied on food found in vegetation. On soft bottoms, the average distribution of food categories among fish species was 44% benthic, 35% pelagic and 21% vegetation-associated food items.     

Spatial analyses of intertidal assemblages on sheltered rocky shores

Abstract Understanding processes in complex assemblages depends on good understanding of spatial and temporal patterns of structure at various spatial scales. There has been little quantitative information about spatial patterns and natural temporal changes in intertidal assemblages on sheltered rocky shores in temperate Australia. Natural changes and responses to anthropogenic disturbances in these habitats cannot be accurately measured and assessed without quantitative data on patterns of natural variability in space and through time. This paper describes some suitable quantitative methods for examining spatial and temporal patterns of diversity and abundances of highshore, midshore and lowshore intertidal assemblages and the important component species for a number of shores in a bay that has not been severely altered by human disturbance. Despite a diverse flora and fauna on these shores, the midshore and lowshore assemblages on sheltered shores were characterized by a few species which were also the most important in discriminating among assemblages on a shore and, for each assemblage, among different shores. The same set of species was also important for measuring small-scale patchiness within each assemblage (i.e. between replicate sites on a shore). Therefore, these data provide a rationale for selecting species that are useful for measuring differences and changes in abundance among places and times at different scales and, hence, can be used in the more complex sampling designs necessary to detect environmental impacts. There was considerable spatial variability in all assemblages and all species (or taxa) examined at scales of metres, tens of metres and kilometres. There were no clear seasonal trends for most measures, with as much or more variability at intervals of 3 months as from year to year. Most interactions between spatial and temporal measures were at the smallest scale, with different sites on the same shore generally showing different changes from time to time. The cause(s) of this apparently idiosyncratic variability1 were not examined, but some potential causes are discussed. These data are appropriate for testing hypotheses about the applicability of these findings to other relatively undisturbed sheltered shores, about effects of different anthropogenic disturbances on sheltered intertidal assemblages and to test hypotheses about differences in intertidal assemblages on sheltered versus wave-exposed shores.     

Patterns of macroalgal diversity, community composition and long-term changes along the Swedish west coast

This study analyses the complicated patterns of vertical distribution of the macroalgal vegetation in an area where brackish and marine waters meet and mix. Variables used to record vegetation characteristics are algal cover, species composition and diversity. The data set includes 64 diving profiles, all from sites exposed to wave action, along a ca. 260 km long coastline. The profiles belong to four categories: coastal sites in the Skagerrak (more marine), coastal sites in the Kattegat (more brackish), coastal sites in the Kattegat after a toxic phytoplankton bloom, and submerged offshore stone reefs in the Kattegat. The highest species diversity was found at the reefs, which are not affected directly by land runoff. At the reefs the 18 most common perennial species penetrate 2–11 m (on average 5.5 m) deeper than at the coastal sites. The virtual absence of sedimentation, and thus the availability of substratum, at the reefs may explain the differences so that the lower limit for the algae is determined by light penetration or by recruitment problems caused by strong currents at the reefs, whereas sedimentation limits the settlement of algae in coastal sites. Ordination analysis based on species composition reveals that the major environmental gradients structuring the algal vegetation in the Kattegat and the Skagerrak are salinity and water depth. The large data set of this study made it possible to quantify the downward dislocation of Atlantic intertidal species to the sublittoral along the Swedish west coast. For example, the mean upper limit of Corallina officinalis is 2 m in the Skagerrak but 12.5 m in the Kattegat and the mean occurrence interval of Fucus serratus is 0.9–2.7 m in the Skagerrak, but 1.1–6.3 m in the Kattegat. This downward dislocation is suggested to be the result of decreased competition when species successively disappear with lower salinity. Comparisons of the present study's results with those of previous investigations show that eight common red algal species have moved upwards compared to the situation before the large-scale eutrophication started in the 1960s, e.g. Cystoclonium purpureum and Polysiphonia elongata by ca. 8 m, Phycodrys rubens and Delesseria sanguinea by ca. 5 m. A toxic phytoplankton bloom affected macroalgal community composition on the whole only slightly, but it had a negative effect on algal cover and species richness below a water depth of ca. 5 m, the algae were visibly damaged and the lower vegetation limit temporarily moved upwards.     

Ecology of marine algae on rocky shores and subtidal reefs in temperate Australia

Experiments in intertidal and subtidal rocky marine habitats in temperate Australia have identified the effects of various biological and physical factors on algal assemblages. In intertidal habitats, these involve micro- and macro-algae and grazing by gastropods. In subtidal habitats, interactions among micro- and macro-algae, echinoids, gastropods, micro-invertebrates and sessile invertebrates have been studied. Experimental studies on physical disturbances of algal assemblages have focussed on the effects of desiccation and storms. Most studies have not considered more than one spatial or temporal scale. Few have been concerned with seasonal influences and fewer have been concerned with variation from year to year. Most of the work lacks applicability to biogeographic comparisons. More experimental work across a variety of spatial and temporal scales is required to determine significant biological and physical processes affecting structure of algal assemblages across broad areas of temperate Australia.     

Temporal variation of rocky intertidal resident fish assemblages - patterns and possible mechanisms with a note on sampling protocols

In this paper we review the temporal patterns of variation of rocky intertidal resident fish assemblages and discuss possible mechanisms that may explain these patterns. These assemblages tend to be highly resilient and stable on an inter-annual basis, but tend to undergo marked seasonal fluctuations, as different species recruit and reach different phases of their life cycles. Larval supply is usually not a limiting factor suggesting that post-recruitment deterministic mechanisms exert a strong influence on assemblage organization. At methodological level, it is argued that traditional destructive sampling techniques should be avoided whenever possible. It is proposed that a deeper understanding of these assemblages requires more detailed information on intraspecific interactions between members of each constituent species, and information on the interactions between limited numbers of species for which mutually influences are particularly strong. It is argued that size, topography and biotic cover of a pool may provide a limited number of favourable sites for fishes of a given species and class size so that intraspecific competition, and possibly predation of the individuals less able to get access to best sites, may explain to a considerable extent the inter-annual stability and resilience of these assemblages.     

Baseline study of soft bottom benthic assemblages in the Bay of Santander (Gulf of Biscay)

The Bay of Santander constitutes one of the most important estuarine areas in northern Spain (Gulf of Biscay) which has been significantly stressed by sewage discharges. However, an improvement in the environmental quality of the bay is expected once the new sewer system comes into operation. The evaluation of such an evolution needs to be contrasted with the current situation, established in specific baseline studies. For this purpose, a field study was carried out on the soft bottom assemblages of the estuary in spring of 1998. At each station, the benthic fauna abundance, grain size, organic matter, carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus and heavy metals concentrations were analysed. The community structure and the physical and chemical characteristics of the sediment reflected the higher impacts both near the points of discharges and in the low water exchange zones, whereas those areas showing higher tidal flows presented an acceptable quality. High heavy metal concentrations for Cd, Hg, Pb and Zn indicated contamination of industrial sources in several areas of the Bay. This information allows to establish a reference situation in order to improve the design of a specific monitoring program for this area.     

Species assemblages of pelagic fish embryos in the southern North Sea between 1984 and 2000

The occurrence and abundance of the pelagic eggs of southern North Sea spring-spawning fish were analysed between 1984 and 2000. Species number varied between six (1986) and 14 (1999) and was positively correlated with sea surface temperature. With one exception, dab eggs were always the most abundant and usually highly dominant. Ranking of species depended on temperature, but no significant differences in ranking between years was discernible. Although with the increase in temperature in the 1990s a change in species assemblage was evident [species belonging to the boreal-Mediterranean (Lusitanian) group became more apparent in the species assemblage] this did not lead to an increased species diversity (Shannon Index) or a change in other community parameters. It appears that the recent developments regarding spawning stock biomass of commercial North Sea fish is reflected in the declining egg abundance of the respective commercial and larger species (i.e. cod, flounder, plaice) and an increase in abundance of the eggs of small species (i.e. long rough dab, rockling) over the years. Received in revised form: 5 November 2001 Electronic Publication     

Recent increase of filamentous algae in shallow Swedish bays: Effects on the community structure of epibenthic fauna and fish

A summary is presented of estimates of distribution and growth of filamentous algae and its effect on the structure and functioning of epibenthic fauna and fish communities in shallow bays on the Swedish west coast. As a consequence of coastal eutrophication vegetation cover has gradually increased during the last decade, and during 1990's most bays in the Skagerrak-Kattegat area were variously covered with filamentous algae during spring and summer (May–July). In some areas filamentous algae (mainlyCladophora andEnteromorpha) completely covered the bottom. In field studies it was demonstrated that increased cover and dominance of filamentous algae result in structural changes of the epibenthic fauna community. Field studies showed that species richness and biomass of epibenthic fauna increased in a sandy bay with a moderate increase (30 to 50%) of filamentous algae cover. At higher cover (90%), biomass of epibenthic fauna was reduced, however, to the same level as for the sandy habitat, although the dominant epibenthic species were different. Heavy growth of epiphytic filamentous algae on eelgrass resulted in reduced biomass and a shift in the species composition of the epibenthic fauna community. Fish assemblage structure was also related to changes in vegetation. In eelgrass beds, fish species numbers were reduced with increasing cover of epiphytic filamentous algae, and at rocky bottoms with kelp algae (dominated byFucus), fish biomass decreased with increasing cover of attached filamentous algae. Further, foraging efficiency of juvenile cod and settling success of plaice were reduced as a response to increasing dominance of filamentous algae.     

Migratory differences between ecotypes of the snail Littorina saxatilis on Galician rocky shores

Local migration patterns may be crucial to gene flow in species of marine gastropods which do not broadcast pelagic larvae. In some species, dispersal over distances of a few metres may influence micro-scale population structures. We investigated the migration pattern in Galician populations of the snail Littorina saxatilis in which populations of contrasting morphologies occupy different tidal levels of the same rocky shore. Two distinct morphs, one at the upper and one at the lower shore, overlap in distribution in a small mid-shore region where hybrids are produced. We documented the distances and directions of migration of both parental morphs and hybrids 1 month after they had been marked and released at different shore levels. When placed at their native shore level, snails migrated less than about 2m and usually in independent directions. This supports the suggestion of a low local gene flow. At an alien shore level, however, the morphs often moved further and more directionally compared with native morphs. These differences may help to keep the two morphs separated at different shore levels. As fitness of an individual is highest in its native habitat, this seems to be an adaptive strategy.     

Predicting the structure and diversity of young-of-the-year fish assemblages in large rivers

1. Interactions between environmental variables and 0+ fish assemblages in the upper River Garonne (France) were quantified during late August 1995.
2. The abundance and diversity of the fish assemblages in floodplain channels were modelled using Artificial Neural Network (ANN) analysis and nine variables: the abundance of the six dominant species, fish specific richness, overall abundance of 0+ fish and the Shannon index of diversity. Multiple regression analysis was also used to assess ANN performance.
3. Using 596 samples, correlation coefficients ( r adjusted) between observed and estimated values of the nine dependent parameters were all highly significant ( P < 0.01). Expected values from the tested data were significantly related to the observed values. The correlation coefficient between observed and estimated values ( r ) varied from 0.70 to 0.85.
4. The ANN provided a high quality prediction, despite the complex nature of the relationship between microhabitat composition and fish abundance.
5. Garson's algorithm was used to provide the explanatory power needed in ecology when using black-box models. Parameters contained in the models (i.e. weighting) were used to determine the relative contributions of explanatory variables and thus to ascertain the structure of fish communities.     

Hard rock versus soft bottom: the fauna associated with intertidal mussel beds on hard bottoms along the coast of Chile,and considerations on the functional role of mussel beds

The fauna associated with hard bottom mussel beds along the exposed Pacific coast of Chile was examined. The abundance of adult (>10 mm body length) purple mussels Perumytilus purpuratus varied between 32 and 75 individuals per 50 cm², and their biomass between 4.8 and 8.6 g AFDW per 50 cm² at eight sampling sites between Arica (18°S) and Chiloé (42°S). At all sampling sites, the associated fauna was dominated by suspension-feeding organisms (cirripeds, spionid and sabellid polychaetes, a small bivalve) followed by grazing peracarids and gastropods. Predators and scavengers also reached high abundances while deposit- and detritus-feeding organisms were of minor importance. The majority of organisms associated with these hard bottom mussel beds feed on resources obtained from the water column or growing on the mussels rather than on materials deposited by the mussels. This is in contrast to the fauna associated with mussel beds on soft bottoms, which comprises many species feeding on material accumulated by mussels (faeces and pseudofaeces) and deposited within the mussel bed. Many of the organisms dwelling between mussels both on hard bottoms and on soft bottoms have direct development, but organisms with pelagic development also occur abundantly within mussel beds. We propose that species with direct development are disproportionately favoured by the structurally complex habitat with diverse interstitial spaces between the mussels, which provides ample shelter for small organisms. We conclude that mussels on hard-bottoms primarily provide substratum for associated fauna while mussels on soft bottoms provide both substratum and food resources. Electronic Publication     

Regionally nested patterns of fish assemblages in floodplain lakes of the Magdalena river (Colombia)

We investigated if fish assemblages in neotropical floodplain lakes (cienagas) exhibit nestedness, and thus offer support to the managers of natural resources of the area for their decision making. The location was floodplain lakes of the middle section of the Magdalena river, Colombia. We applied the nested subset analysis for the series of 30 cienagas (27 connected to the main river and three isolated). All fish were identified taxonomically in the field and the matrix for presence-absence in all the lakes was used for the study of the pattern of nestedness. The most diverse order was Characiformes (20 species), followed by Siluriformes (19 species). Characidae and Loricaridae were the richest families. The species found in all the lakes studied were migratory species (17), and sedentary species (33). Two species (Caquetaia kraussii and Cyphocharax magdalenae) were widespread across the cienagas archipelago (100% of incidence). Nestedness analysis showed that the distribution of species over the spatial gradient studied (840 km) is significantly nested. The cienagas deemed the most hospitable were Simiti, El Llanito, and Canaletal. Roughly, 13 out of the 50 species caught show markedly idiosyncratic distributions. The resulting dataset showed a strong pattern of nestedness in the distribution of Magdalenese fishes, and differed significantly from random species assemblages. Out of all the measurements taken in the cienagas, only the size (area) and local richness are significantly related to the range of order of nested subset patterns (r=-0.59 and -0.90, respectively, at p < 0.01). Differential species extinction is suggested as the cause of a nested species assemblage, when the reorganized matrix of species occurring in habitat islands is correlated with the island area. Our results are consistent with this hypothesis.     

The fish assemblage on a coralligenous shallow shelf off the Mediterranean coast of northern Israel

The fish assemblage on the shallow coralligenous shelf (16-30m depth) off Haifa, Israel was sampled using trammel nets throughout a period of 1 year. Complementary data were obtained via underwater censuses of fish on an artificial reef established later in the sampling area. Fortythree species of fish were sampled by trammel nets, 79% of which were observed also during the underwater censuses. Although fish of Red Sea origin constituted only 11.6% of the species composition in the net samples, they contributed 46.2% of the fish abundance and 40.6% of the biomass in these samples. This was supported by the finding that species of Red Sea origin contributed 64% of the abundance of large fish counted on the artificial reef. Siganus luridas, S. rivulatus and Sargocentron rubrum are the main contributors in number and biomass among fish of Red Sea origin. It is suggested that the biogenic rocky bottom of this area contains several components which are similar to biogenic habitats favoured by these benthic species in the Red Sea; this may explain the high abundance of these species in the studied area.     

Predicting impacts of climate-induced range expansion: an experimental framework and a test involving key grazers on temperate rocky shores

Climate change has strong potential to modify the structure and functioning of ecosystems, but experimental field studies into its effects are rare. On rocky shores, grazing limpets strongly affect ecosystem structure and their distribution in NW Europe is changing in response to climate change. Three limpet species co-occur in SW Britain ( Patella vulgata, Patella ulyssiponensis and Patella depressa ) on open rock and in pools. Shores in Ireland are similar, but currently lack P. depressa . It is anticipated that P. depressa will expand its range into Ireland as the climate warms, but we currently lack an empirical basis to predict the consequences of this change. Recent studies show that increasing abundance of P. depressa on British shores has been accompanied by a decline of P. vulgata suggesting interspecific competition. In this study, a new experimental framework was used to examine the potential for P. depressa to affect P. vulgata on Irish shores. P. vulgata was experimentally transplanted into enclosures on open rock and in pools in both Ireland and Britain. In pools, treatments also included transplanted P. ulyssiponensis to mimic natural assemblages. Growth and mortality of P. vulgata were measured over 6 months with no differences between Ireland and Britain. In Britain, P. vulgata caged in pools with transplanted P. depressa and P. ulyssiponensis showed reduced growth, compared with when caged in pools with P. ulyssiponensis alone. There was no effect of P. depressa on the growth rate of P. vulgata on open rock. Results indicate that if the range of P. depressa extends into Ireland, it would reduce the growth of P. vulgata where it co-occurs with P. ulyssiponensis in pools. The framework used here provides a field-based approach that could be used to examine the impacts of climate-induced range expansions on the structure and functioning of other ecosystems.     

Comparative trends and ecological patterns of rocky subtidal communities in the Swedish and Norwegian Skagerrak area

Inside the COST 647 Rocky Subtidal Programme, as well as before this came into operation, a cooperation has been developed between Swedish and Norwegian groups working with rocky subtidal ecology in the Skagerrak area. Along a coastline of more than 300 km, and additional large fjord systems, natural fixed-site rocky subtidal communities have been stereophotographically recorded more or less seasonally over a considerable number of years (15 in Sweden and 7 in Norway). Additional experimental studies have been undertaken in situ.Inter-site comparisons revealed many examples of co-variation in long-term population fluctuations. A common 7-year cyclic pattern was clearly illustrated for the ascidian Ciona intestinalis and the echinoid Echinus esculentus. Similar long-term trends were found in populations of Asterias rubens, Ascidia mentula, Sabella penicillus, Crania anomala and Protantea simplex over the time periods available for comparison. Locally deviating populations were also found, however.Major structuring factors, as well as key species, appeared to be largely the same over the geographic range studied. By comparing all of our results (mostly based on already published data), recruitment and predation were found to be the most important locally organizing factors. Recruitment strategies and patterns influenced both community structure and long-term trends. Predation by echinoderms and gastropods modified the structure of established communities. The common key predator in the area, Asterias rubens, largely influenced community structure by selective predation on the dominant competitors Ciona intestinalis and Mytilus edulis which, in the absence of predation, appeared to be highly capable of substrate monopolization in various parts of the studied communities, depending on depth and exposure.The results indicate the existence of large-scale structuring factors, probably linked to climatic events. This is considered as an important pre-requisite for the future recognition and understanding of local deviations, e.g. as results of pollution. This study also pinpoints some species and processes that should be focussed upon in monitoring programs.     

No correlation between the diversity and productivity of assemblages: evidence from the phytophage and predator assemblages in various cotton agroecosystems

Biodiversity research has shown that primary productivity increases with plant species number, especially in many experimental grassland systems. Here, we assessed the correlation between productivity and diversity of phytophages and natural enemy assemblages associated with planting date and intercropping in four cotton agroecosystems. Twenty-one pairs of data were used to determine Pearson correlations between species richness, total number of individuals, diversity indices and productivity for each assemblage every five days from 5 June to 15 September 2012. At the same trophic level, the productivity exhibited a significant positive correlation with species richness of the phytophage or predator assemblage. A significant correlation was found between productivity and total number of individuals in most cotton fields. However, no significant correlations were observed between productivity and diversity indices (including indices of energy flow diversity and numerical diversity) in most cotton fields for either the phytophage or the predator assemblages. Species richness of phytophage assemblage and total individual numbers were significantly correlated with primary productivity. Also, species richness of natural enemy assemblage and total number of individuals correlated with phytophage assemblage productivity. A negative but not significant correlation occurred between the indices of numerical diversity and energy flow diversity and lower trophic-level productivity in the cotton-phytophage and phytophage-predator assemblages for most intercropped cotton agroecosystems. Our results clearly showed that there were no correlations between diversity indices and productivity within the same or lower trophic levels within the phytophage and predator assemblages in cotton agroecosystems, and inter-cropped cotton fields had a stronger ability to support the natural enemy assemblage and potentially to reduce phytophages.     

Seasonal and interannual variation of subtidal fish assemblages in Wakasa Bay with reference to the warming trend in the Sea of Japan

A bi-monthly underwater visual census was conducted in the subtidal habitat of Nagahama, Wakasa Bay, Sea of Japan, over 5 years from January 2002 to December 2006. A total of 83 fish species and 63,328 individuals were recorded over 120 1-h visual censuses composed of three 2 × 200 m transects. The number of both total individuals (abundance) and species (richness) were strongly correlated with the bottom-water temperature. Species richness was greatest in summer (July–September), with 10–20 species per 400 m², when the sea-bottom temperature was highest (24–28°C), and lowest in winter (January–March), with 1–8 species per 400 m², when the temperature was lowest (10–12°C). Five species, i.e., rockfish, Sebastes inermis, wrasse, Pseudolabrus sieboldi, two species of goby, Acentrogobius pflaumii and Tridentiger trigonocephalus, and pygmy filefish, Rudarius ercodes, were frequently observed and present in more than 200 of the total of 360 total transects. While the presence of most fish species was dependent on water temperature, some species were independent of water temperature, including anchovy, Engraulis japonicus, S. inermis, wasp fish, Hypodytes rubripinnis, A. pflaumii and pufferfish, Takifugu poecilonotus. Jack mackerel, Trachurus japonicus, was the most abundant fish, being most typically seen from spring through autumn, with a total of 21,850 individuals observed over the whole census period. Some species showed strong annual fluctuations in abundance. The interannual stability in fish abundance and species richness was probably because the fish assemblage was composed of a sufficiently large number of species, but with the number of each species fluctuating over time. A comparison of the present survey to one in 1970–72 revealed that over the last 30 years southern fish species have significantly increased whereas those indigenous to northern waters have decreased.

Exploration of spatial and temporal patterns of fish diversity and composition in a tropical estuarine system of Mexico

There are many studies of fish assemblages intemperate systems, but little informationexists about tropical estuarine systems,particularly in the Western Atlantic Regionincluding Mexico. We investigated the fishcommunity structure in the Pueblo Viejo lagoon,Veracruz. Biological samples were collectedmonthly for one year at six sites: three withdense stands of Ruppia maritima and threesites without submerged vegetation. For eachsample, temperature, salinity, dissolvedoxygen, turbidity and depth were analyzed. Theunbiased Simpson diversity index, CanonicalCorrespondence Analysis (CCA) and DiscriminantAnalysis (DA) were used to analyze the fishcommunity. Environmental abiotic variablestended to show significant temporal, but notspatial differences. Fish diversity showedonly a weak significant correlation with watertemperature, and relatively strong diversitypeaks, from June to August and April, wererelated to production peaks in the system. Thetwo first axes of CCA accounted for 65% of thespecies-environment biplot variance, whichsuggested that monthly changes of salinity,turbidity and precipitation, and presence orabsence of submerged vegetation, were the mostimportant environmental variables indetermining the observed variability in fishcommunity composition. Further, fish diversitywas significantly different between habitatswith and those without the presence ofsubmerged vegetation (P < 0.02). A DA showedsignificant differences (P < 0.03) in fishcommunity composition between both kinds ofhabitats, with Lagodon rhomboides,Mugil curema and Menidia beryllina(substantially more abundant in habitat withsubmerged vegetation) as the most importantspecies in the discrimination of spatial fishcomposition. Considering both habitatscombined, fewer differences were observed infish diversity and community compositionbetween rainy and dry seasons. Fish communitycomposition showed greater similarity betweenseasons than between habitats, despite the factthat environmental abiotic variables showed aninverse pattern, suggesting that site factors,such as the presence of submerged vegetation,play a more important role in the maintenanceof fish community patterns than those relatedto temporal influence.