Diversity and abundance of the ichthyofauna of the Cerro Blanco Protected Forest, Ecuador

Study Extent

The biological inventory of the ichthyofauna component was carried out at 7 sampling sites in Jaguar, Condor, Búho, Pigio, Guitarra, 507 and Turismo (Bosque Protector Cerro Blanco, Guayaquil, Ecuador), with a total of 21 sampling points (3 points at each site) and a transect of 100 m at each point. Each sampling site had an ecosystem similarity.

Sampling

The area studied showed an absolute abundance of 320 individuals, comprising three orders, four families, four genera and five species

Method steps

1. Sampling was carried out in the deepest areas of the streams, using a trench sampling device.

N/A

1. Lebiasinidae
   rank: family
2. ANIMALIA
   rank: kingdom
3. Characiformes 
   rank: order
4. Characidae
   rank: family
5. Siluriformes
   rank: order
6. Trichomycteridae
   rank: family

The study area comprises the Cerro Blanco Protected Forest, a private reserve of 6,078 hectares that represents one of the last remnants of dry forest on the Ecuadorian coast. It is located in the province of Guayas at the southeastern end of the Chongón Colonche mountain range in the city of Guayaquil, parish of Chongón and Tarqui. Currently, the Cerro Blanco Protected Forest is managed by the Pro-Bosque Foundation, a private organisation in charge of reforestation, agroforestry, research, environmental education and ecotourism (Bosque Cerro Blanco, 2021). Due to the magnitude of the study area, a prioritisation based on socio-environmental aspects was carried out, resulting in four zones: protected zone (Jaguar), tourist zone, urban zone (Antena 507) and the potentially invaded zone (Pigio).