Next Article in Journal
Wave Hindcast Correction Model Based on Satellite Data in the Azores Islands
Previous Article in Journal
Identification of Risk Patterns by Type of Ship Through Correspondence Analysis of Port State Control: A Differentiated Approach to Inspection to Enhance Maritime Safety and Pollution Prevention
 
 
Search for Articles:
Title / Keyword
Author / Affiliation / Email
Journal
Article Type
 
 
Advanced Search
 
Section
Special Issue
Volume
Issue
Number
Page
 
Journals
Oceans
Volume 6
Issue 1
10.3390/oceans6010016
oceans-logo
Submit to this Journal Review for this Journal Propose a Special Issue
► Article Menu

Article Menu

share Share announcement Help format_quote Cite question_answer Discuss in SciProfiles
first_page
settings
Order Article Reprints
Font Type:
Arial Georgia Verdana
Font Size:
Aa Aa Aa
Line Spacing:
Column Width:
Background:
Article

Environmental Variables Influencing the Distribution of Penaeus Shrimp (Decapoda: Dendrobranchiata: Penaeidae) in a Subtropical Estuary of the Gulf of Mexico

by
Ayla Marisol Ayala-Cruz
1,
Roberto Pérez-Castañeda
1,*,
Zeferino Blanco-Martínez
1,
Jesús Genaro Sánchez-Martínez
1,
María de la Luz Vázquez-Sauceda
1,
Flaviano Benavides-González
1 and
Jaime Luis Rábago-Castro
2
1
Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Universidad Autónoma de Tamaulipas, Carretera Victoria-Mante km 5, A.P. 263, Ciudad Victoria 87000, Tamaulipas, Mexico
2
Secretaría de Investigación y Posgrado, Universidad Autónoma de Tamaulipas, Centro Universitario Victoria, Ciudad Victoria 87000, Tamaulipas, Mexico
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Oceans 2025, 6(1), 16; https://doi.org/10.3390/oceans6010016
Submission received: 24 December 2024 / Revised: 9 March 2025 / Accepted: 12 March 2025 / Published: 17 March 2025
Browse Figures
Review Reports Versions Notes

Abstract

:
The habitat characteristics preferred by Penaeus 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 (Penaeus aztecus, P. duorarum, P. brasiliensis, and P. setiferus) were collected. Except for P. setiferus, the highest shrimp abundance was near the mouth of the estuary, where the highest salinity and seagrass biomass (Halodule wrightii) 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. Penaeus setiferus 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.

1. Introduction

Several commercially important species of penaeid shrimp (family Penaeidae) are widely distributed throughout the Gulf of Mexico. These species have a life cycle characterized by migratory processes between the sea and estuarine ecosystems (coastal lagoons and estuaries). Postlarvae migrate from the sea to estuaries, where they remain during their juvenile stage, later returning to the sea, where they become adults and reproduce [1,2,3]. The settlement of planktonic shrimp postlarvae in estuaries and their development into juveniles are critical life cycle events for sustaining their populations [2,4].
Estuaries are nutrient-rich ecosystems with habitats suitable for numerous aquatic organisms. They also serve as nursery areas for several species of fish and invertebrates, at least during a particular stage of their life cycle, providing feeding and refuge areas [5,6,7,8]. Various estuarine environmental factors (e.g., temperature, salinity, dissolved oxygen, and submerged aquatic vegetation [SAV]) can affect the population dynamics of juvenile penaeid shrimp [3,7,9,10,11,12].
SAV is composed of subtidal aquatic plants (such as seagrasses and macroalgae) that are typically found in the shallow sections of estuaries and coastal lagoons [13,14]. Studies have been conducted on juvenile shrimp in seagrass meadows in different coastal ecosystems worldwide. Among the shrimp species that have been analyzed are penaeids from the Americas, such as Penaeus aztecus and P. duorarum [10,15,16]. However, there is a scarcity of studies on northwest Atlantic penaeid shrimps inhabiting positive subtropical estuaries, which are distinguished by a declining salinity gradient from the mouth to upstream areas [17]. Many studies on these shrimp species have been conducted in coastal ecosystems, such as bays, coastal lagoons, or the continental shelf [5,18,19,20,21].
While some studies have been conducted in North American estuaries, particularly in South Carolina [22], Alabama [23], and Galveston [24] (USA), they have dealt with growth estimates or were undertaken in habitats with intertidal salt marsh vegetation. However, there is a lack of research on the distribution and abundance of penaeids in seagrass and macroalgal beds in subtropical estuaries.
The Soto La Marina River is the largest river in the central region of Tamaulipas (Mexico), and it drains into the Gulf of Mexico. Its freshwater flow mixes with seawater to form a subtropical estuary that serves as a habitat for penaeid shrimp. No studies on shrimp populations have been conducted in this ecosystem. This study aimed to evaluate the distribution of penaeid shrimp species along the Soto La Marina River estuary, analyzing the influence of SAV meadows and abiotic factors on shrimp populations.

2. Materials and Methods

2.1. Study Area

The Soto La Marina River estuary is located in the subtropical region of the Americas (23°46′12″–23°47′24″ N, 97°44′00″–97°56′20″ W) and flows into the Gulf of Mexico (Figure 1). This coastal ecosystem is classified as a positive estuary because the river’s freshwater input and rainfall exceed evaporation [17], and it has a diurnal tidal cycle.
The estuary is a suitable ecosystem for shrimp recruitment because it is within the distribution range of several penaeid species. Juveniles of the same species of penaeids have been documented in a nearby coastal lagoon (Laguna Madre) adjacent to the study area [25,26]. Artisanal fishers catch shrimp at two fishing sites in the lower estuary area, relatively close to the river mouth. The present study was conducted at sites within that estuary zone. The sampling sites were located in shallow areas near the shore, where SAV meadows can be found, which are suitable habitats for penaeid shrimp recruitment [16].

2.2. Sampling and Laboratory Procedures

Five sampling sites were established in the estuary, ranging from ca. 0.7 km (Site 1) to 5.7 km (Site 5) from the river mouth (Figure 1). Two biweekly samplings of shrimp and environmental variables were conducted in November 2017 at each of the five sites located in the estuary (Figure 1). This is the time of year when peak shrimp abundance has been observed in seagrass beds near a tidal mouth (entry point for the postlarvae) in a nearby coastal lagoon [26]. Shrimp were caught at night using a small-bottom net (small beam trawl) with a fixed mouth opening (2.0 m wide × 0.6 m high) and a 2.5 m long conical net (1.3 cm mesh size). Three 50 m trawls per site parallel to the shoreline were performed at each site on each sampling date, covering a swept area of 100 m2 per tow. The net was towed manually by two people walking on the estuary bottom (1.0 to 1.2 m depth), each handling one side of the net’s mouth. The collected shrimp were placed in polyethylene bottles with 70% ethyl alcohol and labeled for later laboratory analysis.
During shrimp sampling, water temperature (°C) and dissolved oxygen (mg/L) were recorded with a portable field meter (YSI Model 550A; Yellow Springs Instrument, Yellow Springs, OH, USA), and salinity (ppt) was measured with a refractometer. These environmental variables were measured at approximately 20–30 cm depth. We also took SAV samples using a 1 m2 quadrat for each 50 m trawl. Aquatic vegetation was placed in labeled plastic bags, stored in a cooler with ice, and transported to the laboratory.
Each shrimp was individually measured (carapace length, CL) to the nearest 0.1 mm under a dissecting microscope (Carl Zeiss, Model Stemi 2000-C, Thornwood, NY, USA) and classified by species according to Pérez-Farfante [27]. Shrimp were categorized into three population groups according to size: recruits (CL < 8.0 mm), juveniles (CL ≥ 8.0 mm but < 15.0 mm), and subadults (CL ≥ 15.0 mm), as in [9].
This operational classification is based on the fact that 15 mm CL is the minimum size at which these species reach the subadult stage, meaning that this is the size at which thelycum (in females) and petasma (in males) assume an adult form [27]. In addition, due to the lack of distinct species-level characteristics for shrimp smaller than 8 mm CL, this group of individuals was categorized as recruits.
The SAV samples were rinsed and sorted into macroalgae and seagrass species (excluding rhizomes), and their dry-weight biomass (g/m2) was determined after 24 h of drying in an electric oven (Riossa, Mexico). Biomass was measured with an OHAUS electric scale (precision 0.01 g) (Model Adventurer Pro, OHAUS Corporation, NJ, USA).

2.3. Data Analysis

A one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was performed to evaluate differences in salinity, temperature, dissolved oxygen, and SAV biomass (total, seagrass, and macroalgae) between sites. Similarly, shrimp abundance (total, by species, and by population component) was analyzed by one-way ANOVAs to evaluate differences between sites. When significant differences were detected, Tukey’s multiple-comparison test was applied. Data were transformed with the fourth root or log10(x + 1) to meet ANOVA assumptions when necessary [28].
Forward stepwise multiple-regression analysis was used to assess the relative contributions of salinity, temperature, dissolved oxygen, and SAV biomass (total, seagrass, and macroalgae) to fluctuations in shrimp abundance (total and disaggregated by population component and species). The environmental factors that produced the greatest number of significant results in the multiple-regression analyses were plotted separately to illustrate their relative importance in explaining the variations in shrimp abundance along the estuary.

3. Results

3.1. Environmental Variables

The water temperature fluctuated very slightly along the estuary, with mean values (±SE) ranging from 22.7 ± 0.4 °C (Site 5) to 22.3 ± 0.3 °C (Site 1) (Figure 2), with no significant differences (p > 0.05) between the sites. Salinity decreased significantly (p < 0.05) from the estuary’s mouth to upstream areas, with the highest value recorded at Site 1 (32 ± 0.82 ppt) and the lowest levels observed at Sites 4 (22.2 ± 1.01 ppt) and 5 (22.3 ± 1.15 ppt). In contrast, dissolved oxygen (DO) levels in the water were significantly higher (p < 0.05) at Site 1 (6.7 ± 0.36 mg/L) and lower at Site 3 (5.3 ± 0.08 mg/L) (Figure 2).
The seagrass Halodule wrightii dominated the submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV), while microalgae, mainly Hypnea cervicornis and Chaetomorpha linum, made up a smaller proportion (16%) of biomass. Total SAV and seagrass were most abundant at Sites 1–2 but absent at Site 4. In contrast, macroalgae were exclusively found at Sites 2 and 3, with no significant variation in biomass between these two sites. Both the SAV and H. wrightii biomass varied significantly (p < 0.05) along the estuary, with the highest values observed at Sites 3 and 2, respectively (Figure 2).

3.2. Shrimp Populations

A total of 1069 penaeid shrimp were collected in this study. Based on size classification, most of the penaeids in the estuary were juveniles, followed by recruits and subadults. Penaeus aztecus (24% of the total abundance) and P. duorarum (21%) were the shrimp species with the highest abundance. Other species found in smaller proportions included P. brasiliensis (9%) and P. setiferus (4%). The remaining 42% corresponded to organisms smaller than 8 mm CL (classified as recruits), which could not be identified at the species level because there were no taxonomic keys for those sizes.
In all cases, except for recruits and subadults, shrimp abundance differed significantly across the sampling sites along the estuary. Overall, shrimp abundance declined at locations farther from the river mouth. The highest shrimp abundance was observed at Sites 1 to 3, depending on the population component or species analyzed. Conversely, Penaeus setiferus was the most abundant at Site 4 (Figure 3).
The multiple-regression models explained 25–73% of the variance in the relationships between shrimp abundance and environmental variables. Salinity and seagrass biomass were identified as the primary explanatory variables in the fitted models (Table 1). Salinity was a significant positive predictor of the total abundance of penaeids, juveniles, subadults, P. aztecus, and P. duorarum. Seagrass biomass was positively related to the total number of shrimp, as well as to the abundance of recruits, juveniles, and P. aztecus. Additionally, macroalgae biomass was positively related to P. brasiliensis and negatively related to subadults. Notably, none of the variables analyzed were significantly related to P. setiferus (Table 1).
The influence of salinity and seagrasses on shrimp abundance was further illustrated using graphs with individual linear fittings, where significant positive slopes were observed (Figure 4). This analysis was conducted exclusively in cases where both environmental variables were significant in the previously established multiple-linear-regression models.

4. Discussion

4.1. Habitat Environmental Factors

Salinity exhibited a significant decline from the river mouth to upstream areas, consistent with the longitudinal salinity gradient of a positive estuary, where the freshwater inflow exceeds evaporation [29]. Oxygen, however, did not follow the same spatial pattern, with its lowest values occurring at Sites 2 and 3, which also had the highest biomass of seagrasses and macroalgae. This study was conducted at night, when photosynthesis is absent and oxygen is not produced [6]. There is evidence that seagrasses consume twice as much oxygen at night [30], which partly explains the lower oxygen levels detected in the estuary area with the highest biomass of submerged aquatic vegetation (Sites 2 and 3).
The seagrass H. wrightii was the dominant submerged aquatic vegetation in the Soto La Marina River estuary. Similar results have been observed in some areas of the Laguna Madre, a coastal lagoon adjacent to our study area, where this species accounted for more than 77% of the total seagrass biomass [31].
The highest biomass of H. wrightii was recorded in the area closest to the river mouth, where salinity was greater than 27 ppt (Figure 2). Similarly, in another estuarine ecosystem in the Gulf of Mexico with a longitudinal salinity gradient, greater biomass for this seagrass species was registered in the zone near the mouth [10]. Halodule wrightii is distributed in the Western Atlantic Ocean, mainly in tropical latitudes [32], where salinity below 23 ppt and a temperature under 20 °C negatively affect its meadow cover due to environmental stress [33]. Given this, this seagrass species is expected to be found in areas with higher marine influence in the estuarine ecosystems of the Gulf of Mexico, as occurred in our study area.

4.2. Distribution of Penaeid Shrimps Along the Estuary

It is worth noting that juvenile shrimp were the most abundant population component in the estuary, as expected, considering their life cycle [34]. The higher abundance of P. aztecus, followed by P. duorarum, was a relatively similar result to that reported for the Laguna Madre [31], possibly due to its proximity to the Soto La Marina River estuary. Although the proportions of P. aztecus and P. duorarum were relatively similar in both coastal ecosystems, the abundance levels (ind/100 m2) in the Soto La Marina River estuary were generally lower than those observed in the Laguna Madre. The proportion of subadults (shrimp with a size > 15 mm CL) in the estuary was less than 3%. In contrast, it ranged from 9 to 30% in the Laguna Madre [5]. The aforementioned differences could indicate that shrimp inhabiting the estuary might have a shorter residence time or a higher mortality rate.
The sites with the highest shrimp abundance were typically located near the mouth of the Soto La Marina River estuary (Sites 1–3), coinciding with the areas with the highest salinity and seagrass biomass. In the case of P. setiferus, however, the peak abundance was recorded in a different estuary area, differing from the pattern observed for the other shrimp species. Similarly, in an estuary in Southern Brazil, juvenile shrimp were predominantly more abundant in areas with seagrass and elevated salinity [35].

4.3. Influence of Environmental Factors on Shrimp Abundance

Salinity and seagrass biomass were the main factors influencing the spatial preference of penaeids along the estuary. The results of the multiple-linear-regression analyses indicated that both variables exhibited significant positive relationships with shrimp abundance in most of the cases examined (Table 1, Figure 4). Positive associations between shrimp abundance and salinity levels have also been documented for juvenile penaeids inhabiting estuarine ecosystems of the northern (Mobile Bay, USA) [23] and southern (Celestun, Mexico) [10] parts of the Gulf of Mexico. On the other hand, a study conducted in a coastal lagoon (Rio Lagartos) in the Yucatan Peninsula indicated that juvenile penaeid shrimps (P. brasiliensis and P. notialis) were absent at salinities ranging from 60 to 90 ppt and were more abundant at salinities between 35 and 40 ppt [36].
The salinity in Mobile Bay ranged from 2.26 to 20.46 ppt. In Celestun, salinity fluctuated from 6 to 36 ppt, whereas in Rio Lagartos, it ranged from 25 to 150 ppt. The shrimp that inhabit these ecosystems are exposed to higher salinity ranges than in our study, showing a drastic decrease in their abundance or the absence of organisms at salinities lower than 5 ppt or higher than 50 ppt [10,23,36].
The optimal salinities for juvenile penaeid growth range between 30 ppt [4] and 35 ppt [37], influencing their spatial patterns in estuarine ecosystems. In our study area, the salinity conditions at Sites 1–3, where the greatest abundance of shrimp was observed, were similar to these values. Conversely, salinity and shrimp abundance significantly declined with increasing distance from the river mouth (i.e., Sites 4 and 5). This concordance between the spatial patterns of salinity and shrimp abundance resulted in a significant positive trend between the two variables.
Juvenile penaeid shrimp can be found in coastal ecosystems with oligohaline to hypersaline waters [34]. Differences in their osmoregulatory capacity may determine their spatial abundance patterns along the longitudinal gradient of salinity in the estuary [37,38]. Penaeus aztecus, P. duorarum, and P. brasiliensis have weaker osmotic regulation at low salinities than P. setiferus [37,39]. Furthermore, the salinities at which the hemolymph of these penaeids achieves isosmotic balance with their environment differ among species. Penaeus setiferus attains its isosmotic point at a salinity of 23 ppt, whereas P. aztecus and P. duorarum achieve this at salinities of 25 and 26 ppt, respectively [37,39]. The preference of shrimp for sites with salinities close to the isosmotic point reduces their environmental stress by allowing them to channel more energy to growth than to osmoregulation [40]. The aspects described above may help explain the spatial patterns of shrimp within the estuary. These factors could drive the preferences of P. aztecus, P. duorarum, and P. brasiliensis for sites with higher salinity (Sites 1–3) compared to those preferred by P. setiferus (Site 4).
The positive relationship between shrimp abundance and seagrass (H. wrightii) biomass in the Soto La Marina River estuary is consistent with findings from other tropical and subtropical coastal ecosystems in the Gulf of Mexico [5,10]. In other Gulf ecosystems, penaeid shrimps have shown preferences not only for sites with H. wrightii but also for those with other seagrasses, such as Talassia testudinum or Syringodium filiforme [20,41].
Furthermore, a positive relationship between seagrass biomass and shrimp growth has also been documented [42,43], which could be attributed to the presence of food items associated with seagrass [44]. The mortality of juvenile shrimp tends to decrease as seagrass cover increases [43]. Field experiments have demonstrated that shrimp predation tends to be lower in the presence of seagrasses such as H. wrightii [45] or Zostera marina [46]. It has also been shown that, under adverse hydrodynamic conditions, shrimp prefer areas with a high seagrass density because they provide superior protection against currents [47].
Although salinity and seagrass biomass were shown to significantly influence shrimp abundance, its low proportion of explained variance indicates that further research into other possible factors is needed. In this regard, it would be interesting to investigate the impact of the abundance of postlarvae that settle in the ecosystem, the availability of food for penaeids, the abundance of predators, current velocity, water parameters (not included in the current study), and the physicochemical properties of the substrate, among other possible explanatory factors.

4.4. Utilization of Subtropical Estuaries by Penaeids in Other Regions of the World

The present study demonstrates the positive influence of salinity and seagrass bed biomass on the distribution and abundance of penaeid shrimp along the Soto La Marina River estuary. In other subtropical estuaries around the world, for example, in the Logan-Albert Estuary system (Eastern Australia), the abundance of P. merguiensis is observed to be positively associated with temperature and negatively associated with rainfall [48]. A positive relationship between the abundance of Metapenaeus dalli and the water temperature was also reported in the Swan–Canning estuary (Southeastern Australia) [49]. It was previously reported that the abundance of Penaeus latisulcatus in a subtropical estuary in Southwestern Australia was predominantly influenced by salinity and distance from the estuary’s mouth [50]. This observation aligns with the findings of the present study.
In the Conceicao Lagoon (Brazil), the abundance of P. brasiliensis was negatively correlated with temperature. At the same time, salinity exhibited a positive influence, as observed in the present study [11]. Similarly, in the estuarine ecosystem of Laguna de Patos (Brazil), the recruitment of P. paulensis shrimp increased with salinity and tended to be more abundant at sites near the mouth of the estuary [7]. This finding aligns with the observations made in our study area, where the highest shrimp abundance was recorded at sites closest to the mouth of the Soto La Marina River.
In another subtropical estuary in the Northern Gulf of Mexico, P. aztecus, P. duorarum, and P. setiferus have been found to prefer habitats with marsh vegetation cover (Spartina alterniflora, Juncus roemerianus, Sagittaria sp., and Scirpus americanus). In addition, their abundance was positively correlated with temperature and salinity [23]. Likewise, in the estuarine ecosystem of Galveston Bay (USA), the abundance of penaeid shrimp (P. aztecus and P. setiferus) was primarily explained by temperature, salinity, and water level. In addition, P. aztecus showed a strong preference for habitats with marsh vegetation [24].
In positive subtropical estuaries, salinity levels decrease from the mouth to upstream areas, and several studies have been conducted on the penaeid shrimp species that inhabit these environments. As in the present study, the evidence indicated that salinity was positively associated with shrimp abundance in several of these estuaries. However, contrary to our findings, the influence of seagrasses on the distribution and abundance of penaeids was not documented for positive subtropical estuaries. This discrepancy may be attributable to the proximity of our study area (Soto La Marina River) to the tropical region of the Gulf of Mexico, where the seagrass H. wrightii is commonly found [32].

5. Conclusions

The findings revealed that salinity and seagrass biomass were the primary factors influencing the spatial preference of penaeid shrimps along this subtropical estuary. The highest shrimp abundance was recorded near the river mouth, coinciding with areas of higher salinity and greater seagrass biomass. This pattern aligns with observations from other subtropical estuaries worldwide, where salinity and proximity to the estuary mouth have been identified as crucial factors affecting penaeid distribution.
While this study’s findings are consistent with research from other Gulf of Mexico ecosystems, it uniquely demonstrates the influence of seagrasses on penaeid distribution in a positive subtropical estuary. This contribution enhances our understanding of penaeid ecology in such environments. However, future research should focus on the long-term monitoring of these relationships and investigate the potential impacts of environmental changes on penaeid populations in subtropical estuaries. Such knowledge will be crucial for effectively managing and conservating these economically important species and their habitats.

Author Contributions

Conceptualization, methodology, investigation, data curation, and writing—original draft preparation, A.M.A.-C., R.P.-C. and Z.B.-M. Investigation, formal analysis, visualization, and writing—review and editing, J.G.S.-M., M.d.l.L.V.-S., F.B.-G. and J.L.R.-C. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.

Funding

This research received no external funding.

Institutional Review Board Statement

Not applicable.

Informed Consent Statement

Not applicable.

Data Availability Statement

Data are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.

Acknowledgments

This work is part of the first author’s doctoral thesis. We thank the Consejo Nacional de Humanidades Ciencias y Tecnologías (CONAHCYT) of Mexico for the scholarship awarded to the first author.

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

References

  1. Calderon-Aguilera, L.E.; Marinone, S.G.; Aragón-Noriega, E.A. Influence of oceanographic processes on the early life stages of the blue shrimp (Litopenaeus stylirostris) in the Upper Gulf of California. J. Mar. Syst. 2003, 39, 117–128. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  2. Manzano-Sarabia, M.M.; Aragón-Noriega, E.A.; Salinas-Zavala, C.A.; Lluch-Cota, D.B. Distribution and abundance of penaeid shrimps in a hypersaline lagoon in northwestern Mexico, emphasizing the brown shrimp Farfantepenaeus californiensis life cycle. Mar. Biol. 2007, 152, 1021–1029. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  3. Cházaro-Olvera, S.; Winfield, I.; Coria-Olvera, V. Transport of Farfantepenaeus aztecus postlarvae in three lagoon-system inlets in the Southwestern Gulf of Mexico. Crustaceana 2009, 82, 425–437. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  4. Browder, J.A.; Zein-Eldin, Z.; Criales, M.M.; Robblee, M.B.; Wong, S.; Jackson, T.L.; Johnson, D. Dynamics of pink shrimp (Farfantepenaeus duorarum) recruitment potential in relation to salinity and temperature in Florida Bay. Estuaries 2002, 25, 1355–1371. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  5. Pérez-Castañeda, R.; Blanco-Martínez, Z.; Sánchez-Martínez, J.G.; Rábago-Castro, J.L.; Aguirre-Guzmán, G.; Vázquez-Sauceda, M.L. Distribution of Farfantepenaeus aztecus and F. duorarum on submerged aquatic vegetation habitats along a subtropical coastal lagoon (Laguna Madre, Mexico). J. Mar. Biol. Assoc. UK 2010, 90, 445–452. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  6. Day, J.W.; Crump, B.C.; Kemp, W.M.; Yáñez-Arancibia, A. Estuarine Ecology, 2nd ed.; Wiley-Blackwell Press: Hoboken, NJ, USA, 2013; pp. 1–550. [Google Scholar]
  7. Ruas, V.M.; Rufener, M.-C.; D’Incao, F. Distribution and abundance of post-larvae and juvenile pink shrimp Farfantepenaeus paulensis (Pérez Farfante, 1967) in a subtropical estuary. J. Mar. Biol. Assoc. UK 2019, 99, 923–932. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  8. Kimball, M.E.; Eash-Loucks, W.E. Estuarine nekton assemblages along a marsh-mangrove ecotone. Estuaries Coasts 2021, 44, 1508–1520. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  9. Pérez-Castañeda, R.; Defeo, O. Population variability of four sympatric penaeid shrimps (Farfantepenaeus spp.) in a tropical coastal lagoon of Mexico. Estuar. Coast. Shelf Sci. 2001, 52, 631–641. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  10. Pérez-Castañeda, R.; Defeo, O. Spatial distribution and structure along ecological gradients: Penaeid shrimps in a tropical estuarine habitat of Mexico. Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser. 2004, 273, 173–185. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  11. Lüchmann, K.H.; Freire, A.S.; Ferreira, N.C.; Daura-Jorge, F.G.; Marques, M.R.F. Spatial and temporal variations in abundance and biomass of penaeid shrimps in the subtropical Conceição Lagoon, southern Brazil. J. Mar. Biol. Assoc. UK 2008, 88, 293–299. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  12. Ferreira, N.C.; Freire, A.S. Spatio-temporal variation of the pink shrimp Farfantepenaeus paulensis (Crustacea, Decapoda, Penaeidae) associated to the seasonal overture of the sandbar in a subtropical lagoon. Iheringia Sé. Zool. 2009, 99, 390–396. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  13. Barbier, E.; Hacker, S.D.; Kennedy, C.; Koch, E.W.; Stier, A.C.; Silliman, B.R. The value of estuarine and coastal ecosystem services. Ecol. Monogr. 2011, 81, 169–193. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  14. Gallegos-Martínez, M.E.; Hernández-Cárdenas, G. Pastos marinos. In Atlas de Línea Base Ambiental del Golfo de México; Herzka, S.Z., Zaragoza-Álvarez, R.A., Peters, E.M., Hernández-Cárdenas, G., Eds.; CIGOM; CICESE; Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana: Ensenada, Mexico, 2020; pp. 1–104. [Google Scholar]
  15. Beck, M.W.; Heck, K.L., Jr.; Able, K.W.; Childers, D.L.; Eggleston, D.B.; Gillanders, B.M.; Halpern, B.; Hays, C.G.; Hoshino, K.; Minello, T.J.; et al. The identification, conservation and management of estuarine and marine nurseries for fish and invertebrates. Bioscience 2001, 51, 633–641. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  16. Jackson, E.L.; Rowden, A.A.; Attrill, M.J.; Bossey, S.J.; Jones, M.B. The importance of seagrass beds as a habitat for fishery species. In Oceanography and Marine Biology. An Annual Review; Gibson, R.N., Barnes, M., Atkinson, R.J.A., Eds.; Taylor & Francis: New York, NY, USA, 2001; Volume 39, pp. 269–303. [Google Scholar]
  17. Snedden, G.A.; Cable, J.E.; Kjerfve, B. Estuarine geomorphology and coastal hydrology. In Estuarine Ecology, 2nd ed.; Day, J.W., Crump, B.C., Kemp, W.M., Yáñez-Arancibia, A., Eds.; Wiley-Blackwell: Hoboken, NJ, USA, 2013; pp. 19–38. [Google Scholar]
  18. Ramírez-Rodríguez, M.; Santos-Ortega, Y.; Navarrete-Del-Proo, A. Juvenile pink shrimp, Farfantepenaeus duorarum (Burkenroad, 1939): Length composition in three nursery areas in Campeche Sound, Gulf of Mexico. Crustaceana 2004, 77, 1107–1116. [Google Scholar]
  19. Baker, R.; Minello, T.J. Growth and mortality of juvenile white shrimp Litopenaeus setiferus in a marsh pond. Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser. 2010, 413, 95–104. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  20. Brito, R.; Gelabert, R.; Amador del Ángel, L.E.; Alderete, Á.; Guevara, E. Diel variation in the catch of the shrimp Farfantepenaeus duorarum (Decapoda, Penaeidae) and length-weight relationship, in a nursery area of the Terminos Lagoon, Mexico. Rev. Biol. Trop. 2017, 65, 65–75. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  21. Zink, I.C.; Browder, J.A.; Lirman, D.; Serafy, J.E. Pink shrimp Farfantepenaeus duorarum spatiotemporal abundance trends along an urban, subtropical shoreline slated for restoration. PLoS ONE 2018, 13, e0198539. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  22. Glover, K.M.; Kimball, M.E.; Pfirrmann, B.W.; Pelton, M.M.; Dunn, R.P. Juvenile brown shrimp (Farfantepenaeus aztecus) use of salt marsh intertidal creeks as nursery habitat. Estuaries Coasts 2023, 46, 1895–1906. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  23. Howe, J.C.; Wallace, R.K.; Rikard, F.S. Habitat utilization by postlarval and juvenile penaeid shrimps in Mobile Bay, Alabama. Estuaries 1999, 22, 971–979. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  24. Zimmerman, R.J.; Minello, T.J. Densities of Penaeus aztecus, Penaeus setiferus, and other natant macrofauna in a Texas salt marsh. Estuaries 1984, 7, 421–433. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  25. Pérez-Castañeda, R.; Robles-Hernández, C.A.; Sánchez-Martínez, J.G. Interspecific variations in population structure of penaeids from an artisanal shrimp fishery in a hypersaline coastal lagoon of Mexico. J. Coastal Res. 2012, 28, 187–192. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  26. Blanco-Martínez, Z.; Pérez-Castañeda, R. Does the relative value of submerged aquatic vegetation for penaeid shrimp vary with proximity to a tidal inlet? Mar. Freshwater Res. 2017, 68, 581–591. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  27. Pérez-Farfante, I. Diagnostic Characters of Juveniles of the Shrimps Penaeus aztecus aztecus, P. duorarum duorarum, and P. brasiliensis (Crustacea, Decapoda, Penaeidae). Special Scientific Report-Fisheries No. 599; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service: Washington, DC, USA, 1970; pp. 1–26.
  28. Zar, J.H. Biostatistical Analysis, 4th ed.; Prentice-Hall Press: Upper Saddle River, NJ, USA, 1999; pp. 1–663. [Google Scholar]
  29. McLusky, D.S.; Elliot, M. The Estuarine Ecosystem: Ecology, Threats, and Management, 3rd ed.; Oxford University Press: New York, NY, USA, 2004; pp. 1–214. [Google Scholar]
  30. Rasmusson, L.M.; Lauritano, C.; Procaccini, G.; Gullström, M.; Buapet, P.; Björk, M. Respiratory oxygen consumption in the seagrass Zostera marina varies on a diel basis and is partly affected by light. Mar. Biol. 2017, 164, 140. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  31. Blanco-Martínez, Z.; Pérez-Castañeda, R.; Sánchez-Martínez, J.G.; Benavides-González, F.; Rábago-Castro, J.L.; Vázquez-Sauceda, M.L.; Garrido-Olvera, L. Density-dependent condition of juvenile penaeid shrimps in seagrass-dominated aquatic vegetation beds located at different distance from a tidal inlet. PeerJ 2020, 8, e10496. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  32. Bartenfelder, A.; Kenworthy, W.J.; Puckett, B.; Deaton, C.; Jarvis, J.C. The abundance and persistence of temperate and tropical seagrasses at their edge-of-range in the Western Atlantic Ocean. Front. Mar. Sci. 2022, 9, 917237. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  33. Morris, L.J.; Hall, L.M.; Jacoby, C.A.; Chamberlain, R.H.; Hanisak, M.D.; Miller, J.D.; Virnstein, R.W. Seagrass in a changing estuary, the Indian River Lagoon, Florida, United States. Front. Mar. Sci. 2022, 8, 789818. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  34. Dall, W.; Hill, B.J.; Rothlisberg, P.C.; Sharples, D.J. The biology of the Penaeidae. In Advances in Marine Biology; Blaxter, J.H.S., Southward, A.J., Eds.; Academic Press: London, UK, 1990; Volume 27, pp. 1–489. [Google Scholar]
  35. Ruas, V.M.; Rodrigues, M.A.; Dumont, L.F.C.; D’Incao, F. Habitat selection of the pink shrimp Farfantepenaeus paulensis and the blue crab Callinectes sapidus in an estuary in southern Brazil: Influence of salinity and submerged seagrass meadows. Nauplius 2014, 22, 113–125. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  36. May-Kú, M.A.; Ordóñez-López, U. Spatial patterns of density and size structure of penaeid shrimps Farfantepenaeus brasiliensis and Farfantepenaeus notialis in a hypersaline lagoon in the Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico. Bull. Mar. Sci. 2006, 79, 259–271. [Google Scholar]
  37. Brito, R.; Chimal, M.E.; Rosas, C. Effect of salinity in survival, growth, and osmotic capacity of early juveniles of Farfantepenaeus brasiliensis (decapoda: Penaeidae). J. Exp. Mar. Biol. Ecol. 2000, 244, 253–263. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  38. Zink, I.C.; Browder, J.A.; Lirman, D.; Serafy, J.E. Review of salinity effects on abundance, growth, and survival of nearshore life stages of pink shrimp (Farfantepenaeus duorarum). Ecol. Indic. 2017, 81, 1–17. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  39. Castille, F.L.; Lawrence, A.L. The effect of salinity on the osmotic, sodium and chloride concentrations in the hemolymph of euryhaline shrimp of the genus Penaeus. Comp. Biochem. Physiol. Physiol. 1981, 68A, 75–80. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  40. Valdez, G.; Díaz, F.; Denisse Re, A.; Sierra, E. Effect of salinity on physiological energetics of white shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei (Boone). Hidrobiológica 2008, 18, 105–115. [Google Scholar]
  41. May-Kú, M.A.; Criales, M.M.; Montero-Muñoz, J.L.; Ardisson, P.L. Differential use of Thalassia testudinum habitats by sympatric penaeids in a nursery ground of the Southern Gulf of Mexico. J. Crustacean Biol. 2014, 34, 144–156. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  42. Loneragan, N.R.; Haywood, M.D.E.; Heales, D.S.; Kenyon, R.A.; Pendrey, R.P.; Vance, D.J. Estimating the influence of prawn stocking density and seagrass type on the growth of juvenile tiger prawns (Penaeus semisulcatus): Results from field experiments in small enclosures. Mar. Biol. 2001, 139, 343–354. [Google Scholar]
  43. Pérez-Castañeda, R.; Defeo, O. Growth and mortality of transient shrimp populations (Farfantepenaeus spp.) in a coastal lagoon of Mexico: Role of the environment and density-dependence. ICES J. Mar. Sci. 2005, 62, 14–24. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  44. Hewitt, D.E.; Smith, T.M.; Raoult, V.; Taylor, M.D.; Gaston, T.F. Stable isotopes reveal the importance of saltmarsh-derived nutrition for two exploited penaeid prawn species in a seagrass dominated system. Estuar. Coast. Shelf Sci. 2020, 236, 106622. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  45. Minello, T.J. Chronographic tethering: A technique for measuring prey survival time and testing predation pressure in aquatic habitats. Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser. 1993, 101, 99–104. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  46. Peterson, B.J.; Thompson, K.R.; Cowan, J.H., Jr.; Heck, K.L., Jr. Comparison of predation pressure in temperate and subtropical seagrass habitats based on chronographic tethering. Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser. 2001, 224, 77–85. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  47. Barcelona, A.; Serra, T.; Colomer, J.; Infantes, E. Shrimp habitat selection dependence on flow within Zostera marina canopies. Estuar. Coast. Shelf Sci. 2024, 305, 108858. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  48. Meager, J.J.; Vance, D.J.; Loneragan, N.R.; Williamson, I. Seasonal variation and environmental influences on juvenile banana prawn (Penaeus merguiensis) abundance in a subtropical estuary (Logan River) of eastern Australia. Estuar. Coast. Shelf Sci. 2003, 57, 569–576. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  49. Poh, B.; Tweedley, J.R.; Chaplin, J.A.; Trayler, K.M.; Crisp, J.A.; Loneragan, N.R. Influence of physico-chemical and biotic factors on the distribution of a penaeid in a temperate estuary. Estuar. Coast. Shelf Sci. 2019, 218, 70–85. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  50. Potter, I.C.; Manning, R.J.G.; Loneragan, N.R. Size, movements, distribution and gonadal stage of the western king prawn (Penaeus latisulcatus) in a temperate estuary and local marine waters. J. Zool. 1991, 223, 419–445. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
Oceans 06 00016 g001
Figure 1. The locations of the five sampling sites (●) along the Soto La Marina River estuary (Tamaulipas, Mexico). LP and MM correspond to the ‘La Pesca’ and ‘Miguel de la Madrid’ fishing villages, respectively.
Figure 1. The locations of the five sampling sites (●) along the Soto La Marina River estuary (Tamaulipas, Mexico). LP and MM correspond to the ‘La Pesca’ and ‘Miguel de la Madrid’ fishing villages, respectively.
Oceans 06 00016 g001
Oceans 06 00016 g002
Figure 2. Water temperature, salinity, dissolved oxygen (DO), and submerged aquatic vegetation biomass (total, seagrass, and macroalgae) at five sampling sites along the Soto La Marina River estuary. Mean values (±SE) are reported. * p < 0.05; ** p < 0.01; *** p < 0.001; and ns, not significant.
Figure 2. Water temperature, salinity, dissolved oxygen (DO), and submerged aquatic vegetation biomass (total, seagrass, and macroalgae) at five sampling sites along the Soto La Marina River estuary. Mean values (±SE) are reported. * p < 0.05; ** p < 0.01; *** p < 0.001; and ns, not significant.
Oceans 06 00016 g002
Oceans 06 00016 g003
Figure 3. Shrimp abundance (mean ± SE) by population component (total, recruits, juveniles, subadults) and species (Penaeus aztecus, P. duorarum, P. brasiliensis, P. setiferus) collected in the Soto La Marina River estuary. * p < 0.05; ** p < 0.01; *** p < 0.001; and ns, not significant.
Figure 3. Shrimp abundance (mean ± SE) by population component (total, recruits, juveniles, subadults) and species (Penaeus aztecus, P. duorarum, P. brasiliensis, P. setiferus) collected in the Soto La Marina River estuary. * p < 0.05; ** p < 0.01; *** p < 0.001; and ns, not significant.
Oceans 06 00016 g003
Oceans 06 00016 g004
Figure 4. Relationship between selected environmental variables (salinity and seagrass) and shrimp abundance (by population component and species) in the Soto La Marina River estuary. Both independent variables were previously identified (by multiple-linear-regression analysis) as the primary predictors of shrimp abundance.
Figure 4. Relationship between selected environmental variables (salinity and seagrass) and shrimp abundance (by population component and species) in the Soto La Marina River estuary. Both independent variables were previously identified (by multiple-linear-regression analysis) as the primary predictors of shrimp abundance.
Oceans 06 00016 g004
Table 1. Regression coefficients (±SE) for predictor variables in forward stepwise multiple-regression analyses of shrimp (Penaeus spp.) abundance. Only predictors with at least one significant relationship are included in this table. * p < 0.05; ** p < 0.01; *** p < 0.001; and ns, not significant. In the case of P. setiferus, none of the environmental variables was a significant predictor.
Table 1. Regression coefficients (±SE) for predictor variables in forward stepwise multiple-regression analyses of shrimp (Penaeus spp.) abundance. Only predictors with at least one significant relationship are included in this table. * p < 0.05; ** p < 0.01; *** p < 0.001; and ns, not significant. In the case of P. setiferus, none of the environmental variables was a significant predictor.
Total ShrimpRecruitsJuvenilesSubadultsP. aztecusP. duorarumP. brasiliensis
Intercept−49.79 (31.77)8.63 (3.63) *−24.09 (15.48)−3.03 (1.07) *−15.56 (6.03) *−20.79 (9.39) *1.95 (1.07)
Halodule wrightii (g/m2)0.27 (0.12) *0.15 (0.06) *0.15 (0.06) *ns0.09 (0.02) **nsns
Macroalgae (g/m2)nsnsns−0.03 (0.01) *nsns0.16 (0.06) *
Salinity (ppt)2.80 (1.24) *ns1.40 (0.60) *0.16 (0.04) **0.76 (0.23) **1.05 (0.35) **ns
R2 adjusted0.49 **0.25 *0.55 **0.57 **0.73 ***0.37 **0.26 *
Disclaimer/Publisher’s Note: The statements, opinions and data contained in all publications are solely those of the individual author(s) and contributor(s) and not of MDPI and/or the editor(s). MDPI and/or the editor(s) disclaim responsibility for any injury to people or property resulting from any ideas, methods, instructions or products referred to in the content.

Share and Cite

MDPI and ACS Style

Ayala-Cruz, A.M.; Pérez-Castañeda, R.; Blanco-Martínez, Z.; Sánchez-Martínez, J.G.; Vázquez-Sauceda, M.d.l.L.; Benavides-González, F.; Rábago-Castro, J.L. Environmental Variables Influencing the Distribution of Penaeus Shrimp (Decapoda: Dendrobranchiata: Penaeidae) in a Subtropical Estuary of the Gulf of Mexico. Oceans 2025, 6, 16. https://doi.org/10.3390/oceans6010016

AMA Style

Ayala-Cruz AM, Pérez-Castañeda R, Blanco-Martínez Z, Sánchez-Martínez JG, Vázquez-Sauceda MdlL, Benavides-González F, Rábago-Castro JL. Environmental Variables Influencing the Distribution of Penaeus Shrimp (Decapoda: Dendrobranchiata: Penaeidae) in a Subtropical Estuary of the Gulf of Mexico. Oceans. 2025; 6(1):16. https://doi.org/10.3390/oceans6010016

Chicago/Turabian Style

Ayala-Cruz, Ayla Marisol, Roberto Pérez-Castañeda, Zeferino Blanco-Martínez, Jesús Genaro Sánchez-Martínez, María de la Luz Vázquez-Sauceda, Flaviano Benavides-González, and Jaime Luis Rábago-Castro. 2025. "Environmental Variables Influencing the Distribution of Penaeus Shrimp (Decapoda: Dendrobranchiata: Penaeidae) in a Subtropical Estuary of the Gulf of Mexico" Oceans 6, no. 1: 16. https://doi.org/10.3390/oceans6010016

APA Style

Ayala-Cruz, A. M., Pérez-Castañeda, R., Blanco-Martínez, Z., Sánchez-Martínez, J. G., Vázquez-Sauceda, M. d. l. L., Benavides-González, F., & Rábago-Castro, J. L. (2025). Environmental Variables Influencing the Distribution of Penaeus Shrimp (Decapoda: Dendrobranchiata: Penaeidae) in a Subtropical Estuary of the Gulf of Mexico. Oceans, 6(1), 16. https://doi.org/10.3390/oceans6010016

Article Metrics

Back to TopTop