Environmental Variables Influencing the Distribution of <i>Penaeus</i> Shrimp (Decapoda: Dendrobranchiata: Penaeidae) in a Subtropical Estuary of the Gulf of Mexico
The habitat characteristics preferred by <i>Penaeus</i> shrimp inhabiting positive (freshwater-dominated) estuaries in North America have been scarcely investigated. Identifying the main environmental factors within the estuary that affect shrimp abundance is relevant to understanding ha...
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| Format: | Article |
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MDPI AG
2025-03-01
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| Series: | Oceans |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2673-1924/6/1/16 |
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| author | Ayla Marisol Ayala-Cruz Roberto Pérez-Castañeda Zeferino Blanco-Martínez Jesús Genaro Sánchez-Martínez María de la Luz Vázquez-Sauceda Flaviano Benavides-González Jaime Luis Rábago-Castro |
| author_facet | Ayla Marisol Ayala-Cruz Roberto Pérez-Castañeda Zeferino Blanco-Martínez Jesús Genaro Sánchez-Martínez María de la Luz Vázquez-Sauceda Flaviano Benavides-González Jaime Luis Rábago-Castro |
| author_sort | Ayla Marisol Ayala-Cruz |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The habitat characteristics preferred by <i>Penaeus</i> shrimp inhabiting positive (freshwater-dominated) estuaries in North America have been scarcely investigated. Identifying the main environmental factors within the estuary that affect shrimp abundance is relevant to understanding habitat utilization within this particular nursery habitat. This study aimed to evaluate the distribution of penaeid shrimp species along the Soto La Marina River estuary (Northeastern Mexico), analyzing the influence of abiotic factors (water temperature, salinity, and dissolved oxygen) and submerged aquatic vegetation biomass on shrimp populations. A total of 1069 shrimp belonging to four penaeid species (<i>Penaeus aztecus</i>, <i>P. duorarum</i>, <i>P. brasiliensis</i>, and <i>P. setiferus</i>) were collected. Except for <i>P. setiferus</i>, the highest shrimp abundance was near the mouth of the estuary, where the highest salinity and seagrass biomass (<i>Halodule wrightii</i>) were recorded. Salinity and seagrass biomass were the main factors influencing penaeids’ spatial preferences along the estuary, showing significant positive relationships with shrimp abundance in most of the cases examined. <i>Penaeus setiferus</i> was the only species exhibiting peak abundance in an estuarine area devoid of aquatic vegetation (without seagrass or macroalgae) and with a significantly lower salinity level (ca. 22 ppt) than the levels recorded near the river mouth (ca. 28–32 ppt). Differences in osmotic capacity between the species, the protective function of seagrasses against currents, and their role as feeding and refuge habitats could explain the observed spatial distribution in the estuary. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-765e175b378b41bab0363ffe5f5cd3a4 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2673-1924 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-03-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Oceans |
| spelling | doaj-art-765e175b378b41bab0363ffe5f5cd3a42025-08-20T03:43:25ZengMDPI AGOceans2673-19242025-03-01611610.3390/oceans6010016Environmental Variables Influencing the Distribution of <i>Penaeus</i> Shrimp (Decapoda: Dendrobranchiata: Penaeidae) in a Subtropical Estuary of the Gulf of MexicoAyla Marisol Ayala-Cruz0Roberto Pérez-Castañeda1Zeferino Blanco-Martínez2Jesús Genaro Sánchez-Martínez3María de la Luz Vázquez-Sauceda4Flaviano Benavides-González5Jaime Luis Rábago-Castro6Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Universidad Autónoma de Tamaulipas, Carretera Victoria-Mante km 5, A.P. 263, Ciudad Victoria 87000, Tamaulipas, MexicoFacultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Universidad Autónoma de Tamaulipas, Carretera Victoria-Mante km 5, A.P. 263, Ciudad Victoria 87000, Tamaulipas, MexicoFacultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Universidad Autónoma de Tamaulipas, Carretera Victoria-Mante km 5, A.P. 263, Ciudad Victoria 87000, Tamaulipas, MexicoFacultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Universidad Autónoma de Tamaulipas, Carretera Victoria-Mante km 5, A.P. 263, Ciudad Victoria 87000, Tamaulipas, MexicoFacultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Universidad Autónoma de Tamaulipas, Carretera Victoria-Mante km 5, A.P. 263, Ciudad Victoria 87000, Tamaulipas, MexicoFacultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Universidad Autónoma de Tamaulipas, Carretera Victoria-Mante km 5, A.P. 263, Ciudad Victoria 87000, Tamaulipas, MexicoSecretaría de Investigación y Posgrado, Universidad Autónoma de Tamaulipas, Centro Universitario Victoria, Ciudad Victoria 87000, Tamaulipas, MexicoThe habitat characteristics preferred by <i>Penaeus</i> shrimp inhabiting positive (freshwater-dominated) estuaries in North America have been scarcely investigated. Identifying the main environmental factors within the estuary that affect shrimp abundance is relevant to understanding habitat utilization within this particular nursery habitat. This study aimed to evaluate the distribution of penaeid shrimp species along the Soto La Marina River estuary (Northeastern Mexico), analyzing the influence of abiotic factors (water temperature, salinity, and dissolved oxygen) and submerged aquatic vegetation biomass on shrimp populations. A total of 1069 shrimp belonging to four penaeid species (<i>Penaeus aztecus</i>, <i>P. duorarum</i>, <i>P. brasiliensis</i>, and <i>P. setiferus</i>) were collected. Except for <i>P. setiferus</i>, the highest shrimp abundance was near the mouth of the estuary, where the highest salinity and seagrass biomass (<i>Halodule wrightii</i>) were recorded. Salinity and seagrass biomass were the main factors influencing penaeids’ spatial preferences along the estuary, showing significant positive relationships with shrimp abundance in most of the cases examined. <i>Penaeus setiferus</i> was the only species exhibiting peak abundance in an estuarine area devoid of aquatic vegetation (without seagrass or macroalgae) and with a significantly lower salinity level (ca. 22 ppt) than the levels recorded near the river mouth (ca. 28–32 ppt). Differences in osmotic capacity between the species, the protective function of seagrasses against currents, and their role as feeding and refuge habitats could explain the observed spatial distribution in the estuary.https://www.mdpi.com/2673-1924/6/1/16abiotic conditionsCrustaceaestuarine ecosystemjuvenile penaeidsmacroalgaeseagrass |
| spellingShingle | Ayla Marisol Ayala-Cruz Roberto Pérez-Castañeda Zeferino Blanco-Martínez Jesús Genaro Sánchez-Martínez María de la Luz Vázquez-Sauceda Flaviano Benavides-González Jaime Luis Rábago-Castro Environmental Variables Influencing the Distribution of <i>Penaeus</i> Shrimp (Decapoda: Dendrobranchiata: Penaeidae) in a Subtropical Estuary of the Gulf of Mexico Oceans abiotic conditions Crustacea estuarine ecosystem juvenile penaeids macroalgae seagrass |
| title | Environmental Variables Influencing the Distribution of <i>Penaeus</i> Shrimp (Decapoda: Dendrobranchiata: Penaeidae) in a Subtropical Estuary of the Gulf of Mexico |
| title_full | Environmental Variables Influencing the Distribution of <i>Penaeus</i> Shrimp (Decapoda: Dendrobranchiata: Penaeidae) in a Subtropical Estuary of the Gulf of Mexico |
| title_fullStr | Environmental Variables Influencing the Distribution of <i>Penaeus</i> Shrimp (Decapoda: Dendrobranchiata: Penaeidae) in a Subtropical Estuary of the Gulf of Mexico |
| title_full_unstemmed | Environmental Variables Influencing the Distribution of <i>Penaeus</i> Shrimp (Decapoda: Dendrobranchiata: Penaeidae) in a Subtropical Estuary of the Gulf of Mexico |
| title_short | Environmental Variables Influencing the Distribution of <i>Penaeus</i> Shrimp (Decapoda: Dendrobranchiata: Penaeidae) in a Subtropical Estuary of the Gulf of Mexico |
| title_sort | environmental variables influencing the distribution of i penaeus i shrimp decapoda dendrobranchiata penaeidae in a subtropical estuary of the gulf of mexico |
| topic | abiotic conditions Crustacea estuarine ecosystem juvenile penaeids macroalgae seagrass |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2673-1924/6/1/16 |
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