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In October of 2003, I traveled to Ecuador with Virginia Shervette of Texas A&M University. In collaboration with students and staff of the Universidad Estatal Peninsula de Santa Elena (UPSE) we are carrying out a small research project describing the ichthyofauna of a remnant of mangrove forest in Palmar, Guayas province. The mangrove forest of Palmar is a small patch of mangrove completely isolated from Ecuador's primary mangrove forests occurring south in the Gulf of Guayaquil and north in Esmeraldas. Given its isolation, there is the potential for the fish community there to differ from that occurring in the main stands. Unfortunately most of Palmar's mangrove has been lost, and only about 35 ha of mangrove remain (figure is a personal communication from locals; upon our visit locals suggested that as recently as the late 1970's the forest consisted of approximately 250 ha of mangrove, although we can't confirm this). Thus the urgency of describing the community inhabiting the forest. These are pictures from that trip.
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