Composición, distribución y abundancia de la comunidad fitoplanctónica de la ensenada de Utría, Pacífico colombiano

Abstract

Resumen.-Con el fin de caracterizar la composición, distribución y abundancia de la comunidad fitoplanctónica de la ensenada de Utría, se colectaron muestras procedentes de tres estaciones (dos costeras y una con influencia oceánica) y tres profundidades (superficie, profundidad Secchi y profundidad de compensación), tanto diurnas como nocturnas, durante los meses de julio, agosto y octubre de 1995 y febrero y julio de 1996. Se identificaron 218 especies de las cuales 137 fueron diatomeas, 73 dinoflagelados, 5 cianofíceas y 3 silicoflagelados. Dentro de esta comunidad se presentaron especies estuarinas, neríticas y oceánicas. Las principales diferencias ocurrieron entre muestreos, mientras que los cambios entre estaciones, profundidades y día-noche fueron menores. Estas variaciones probablemente fueron causadas por las entradas de aguas continentales y marinas, el régimen mareal y el lavado de playones, especialmente de las zonas de manglar. Palabras Claves: ecología, algas marinas, fitoplancton costero.Abstract.-With the purpose of characterising the composition, distribution and abundance of the phytoplankton community of the cove of Utría, samples from three stations (two coastal and one with oceanic influence) and three depths (surface, Secchi and compensation depths), as much as diurnal and nocturnal were collected, during the months of July, August and October of 1995 and February and July of 1996. 218 species were identified, 137 were diatoms, 73 dinoflagellates, 5 cyanophytes and 3 silicoflagellates. Within this community appeared estuarine, coastal and oceanic species. Main differences occurred between samplings, while stations, depths and day-night changes were less marked. Entrances of the continental and marine waters, tide regime and washing of beaches, especially from the mangrove zones, probably caused these differences.

Temporal Variation in Composition and Abundance of Phytoplankton Species during 2011 and 2012 in Acapulco Bay, Mexico

“…The total richness (82 species) recorded herein, is found within the range of the species reported for the study area [3] [9] [13], as well as for other countries with similar environmental conditions [11] [12] [14]. However, [10] reported 641 taxa for Acapulco Bay and adjacent areas, which belonged to eight divisions of algae, where the most diverse group was Dinophyta with 347 taxa, followed by Bacillariophyta with 274 taxa.…”

“…This result coincides with [3] [4] [9] [10]. In regards to species richness in the same study area, however it disagrees with the pattern observed in other studies of phytoplankton composition from other tropical locations, in which diatoms dominate in terms of number of species [11]- [15]. The groups of phytoplankton species are considered to be accurate indicators of water masses [16].…”

“…The groups of phytoplankton species are considered to be accurate indicators of water masses [16]. Dinoflagellates are best adapted to oceanic environments, while diatoms to coastal ones [11] [17]. Hence, our results suggest that the environmental conditions within the bay change throughout the year given the variation of environmental parameters, as it is shown in the results of PCA.…”

“…Moreover, the environmental changes that occur in the water mass found in the bay are reflected in the characteristics of the phytoplankton community, since more than 70% of the dinoflagellates and diatoms that inhabit therein are adapted to live in both neritic and oceanic environments, i.e., adiaphoric species [11]. There was no estuarine or freshwater influence observed in the phytoplankton species composition.…”

“…The diversity values (0.48 a 2.8 bits) are also similar to the previously found in the study area, where [3] [9] report diversity values (Shannon-Wiener index) that ranged from 1.45 to 4.06 bits, as well as to findings made in other localities of the Tropical Pacific. [11] [20] found diversity values (Shannon-Wiener index) ranging from 3.5 to 5.3 bits, while [21] recorded values from 2.5 to 4 bits. According to [22], the analysis of several phytoplanktonic communities from different oceanographic localities in the Caribbean, African northeastern Atlantic, and the Mediterranean has provided a wide series of Shannon's diversity values which range from 2.4 to 2.6 bits.…”