Distribution and density of juveniles of Lutjanus peru (Nichols and Murphy, 1922) (Pisces: Lutjanidae) on the coast of Jalisco and Colima, Mexico

Se analizo la abundancia y distribucion batimetrica de juveniles de Lutjanus peru en la plataforma continental de Jalisco y Colima, Mexico. Las muestras fueron recolectadas con redes de arrastre tipo camaronero durante tres cruceros. Se capturo un total de 641 individuos, juveniles, cuya longitud total oscila entre 3.7 y 21.9 cm y su peso entre 0.6 y 153.3 g. Los juveniles presentaron una disposicion espacial de tipo agregada. Se determinaron diferencias significativas en la distribucion batimetrica de los organismos, limitandose su presencia a las profundidades de 20 y 40 m. Se encontraron dos grupos de tallas durante los cruceros de mayo a junio (DEM I) y marzo (DEM III), mientras que solo es posible distinguir un grupo en el de noviembre a diciembre (DEM II). De acuerdo con el modelo de crecimiento propuesto por otros autores, los grupos encontrados tendrian 1 y 1.5 anos, respectivamente. Se encontraron diferencias significativas en tallas y pesos individuales entre sitios durante DEM I y DEM III, mientras que durante DEM II las tallas y pesos promedios fueron homogeneos entre sitios. Los juveniles presentaron un crecimiento de tipo isometrico en el intervalo de tallas analizado. The abundance and bathymetric distribution of juveniles of Lutjanus peru on the continental shelf of Jalisco and Colima, Mexico, were analyzed. Shrimp trawl samples were taken from three expeditions during one year. A total of 641 juveniles of L. peru were caught, ranging in total length from 3.7 to 21.9 cm and in weight from 0.6 to 153 g. The juveniles exhibited an aggregate spatial distribution pattern. Significant differences were observed in the bathymetric distribution of the organisms, since their occurrence was limited to shallow waters between 20 and 40 m depth. Two size classes were identified during the May-June cruise (DEM I) and the March cruise (DEM III), but only one class was found in the November-December cruise (DEM II). According to the growth model known for the species, the two size classes found could be of 1 and 1.5 years, respectively. Significant differences were observed in the individual sizes and weights among sites during DEM I and DEM III, whereas the average sizes and weights of DEM II were homogeneous among sites. The juveniles presented isometric growth in the size ranges analyzed.