Benthic mollusc assemblage of the Agua Dulce/El Ermitaño lagoon estuarine system, Jalisco, Mexico

The malacological fauna of the Agua Dulce/El Ermitaño lagoon estuarine system was characterized and its relation to some environmental parameters determined. Five samplings were carried out in January, August, October and December 1993, and February 1994. Biological, hydrological and sediment samples were taken at seven stations in each water body of the system, located on the northern coast of the state of Jalisco (Mexico). The values of some physical and chemical parameters were recorded and differences were found between both water bodies, mainly in regard to salinity, as an average value of 27 psu was obtained for Agua Dulce lagoon and of 2 psu for El Ermitaño estuary. The qualitative analysis of the sediments showed that the system is made up of four basic types: sandy silt, clayey silt, fine to medium sand and a small part of rocky substrate. The malacological fauna was composed of two classes, Gasteropoda and Bivalvia, the first being the one that presented a greater number of species; 6,782 live organisms and 18,508 dead organisms were collected, corresponding to 17 species of gastropods and 14 bivalves. Of the 31 species collected, only 9 were found alive and some appeared in both water bodies in spite of the salinity gradient recorded in the system. Groups of representative species were identified for four types of environments (marine, >25 psu; euryhaline, 10–18 psu; brackish, 5–10 psu; and freshwater, 0–5 psu). Finally, the most important species were the bivalves Tagelus longisinuatus and Mytella strigata, and the gastropods Rissoella excolpa and Bittium mexicanum, with the highest abundances of the cycle. Low diversity values were obtained (D = 1.5–1.8, Dmax = 2.5); however, they were within those recorded for tropical and subtropical coastal ecosystems.