Taxonomic Distinctness of the Soft-bottom Fish Community in A Coastal Lagoon of the West Coast of the Gulf of California, México

The coastal lagoon of La Paz is located on the west coast of the Gulf of California, south of La Paz Bay, in the state of Baja California Sur, Mexico, and is known by locals as Ensenada de La Paz. There are no fish ecology studies in this lagoon since the year 2000. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine the taxonomic distinctness of the soft-bottom fish community of this lagoon. Bi-monthly samplings were carried out in seven localities from August 2016 to June 2017, obtaining a total of 42 replicates. An experimental trawl net was used to catch the fish, and a 22 feet boat with a 75 HP was used as a trawler. Ecological indices such as Fisher’s alpha diversity (α-Fisher), taxonomic distinctness (TD Δ*) and average taxonomic distinctness (AvTD Δ+), were used to describe the current state of this coastal lagoon. A total of 2,763 organisms were collected, belonging to 73 species, 50 genera, 29 families, nine orders and two classes. Majority of the species were grouped in five families. Although, this lagoon has been the object of anthropogenic impact through the discharge of wastewater from the city of La Paz, based on our results (spatial and temporal α-Fisher, TD Δ* and AvTD Δ+), we suggest that this lagoon is in good condition.