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

Abstract

Phytoplankton samples were collected in Acapulco Bay during 2011 (January-April and September) and 2012 (April-July, October, and November) with the objective of determining the abundance and species composition. Samples were collected in two stations located in the bay. A total of 82 species were identified: 42 dinoflagellates, 35 diatoms, three cyanobacteria, and two silicoflagellates. Dinoflagellates were more abundant in the dry season, while diatoms dominated during rainy season. At least seven dinoflagellate species were recorded as potentially toxic, which may increase their populations and turn into harmful algal blooms (HABs) if environmental conditions within the bay are modified. In April 2012 a HAB of the non-toxic species Neoceratium balechii was documented.

Supplemental Material: Isotope sclerochronology indicates enhanced seasonal precipitation in northern South America (Colombia) during the Mid-Miocene Climatic Optimum

“…o Table S2 Fossil samples were collected from various locations on the Guajira Peninsula from the Castilletes and Jimol Formations. These locations and sections are well described in other publications (Hendy et al, 2015;Moreno et al, 2015). Figures S1 and S2 in this supplement show a composite stratigraphic column displaying horizons from which fossil shells were collected, and a geologic map of the Peninsula with spatial distribution of sampling locations marked.…”

The Effects of Anthropogenic Pollutants on Primary Productivity in Mtwapa Creek Waters in Kilifi, Kenya

“…These activities may result in elevated nutrient, mostly nitrogen and phosphorus, concentrations leading to eutrophication and decline in primary productivity. The increase in toxic algal blooms may cause death of benthic fauna, threat to human life and may have negative aesthetical impacts limiting recreational activities [11]. The variations in the nutrients levels in the study area were distinct and the results confirm that different source point discharges different types of nutrients.…”

“…The sensitivity of phytoplankton production and or composition in a marine ecosystem is controlled by light, circulation patterns and availability of nutrients discharges in the aphotic zone. Other environmental conditions such as the pH and temperature changes in the water column affect the taxonomic composition of the phytoplankton communities, cell abundance and species richness during annual seasonal cycles [11]. The net primary production of photoautotrophs in the ocean depends on amount of nutrient discharges with some nutrients limiting production of phytoplankton biomass in a system at a given time.…”

Variación espacio-temporal de diversidad y densidad de los poliquetos pelágicos en la Bahía de Acapulco, Guerrero, México

“…En general, los parámetros físico-químicos presentaron valores similares a lo registrado previamente (Domínguez-Parra, 1979; Garate-Lizárraga, Chávez-Almazán, López-Silva, & Licea, 2012;Meave-del Castilloet al, 2012;Rojas-Herrera et al, 2012;Moreno-Díaz et al, 2015). La aparente incongruencia de los datos de la salinidad con mayores valores en mayo y menores en diciembre, puede explicarse a que los periodos de estudio se ubican justo en la transición de las épocas de lluvias y de secas, de tal forma que el muestreo de mayo se realizó cuando la precipitación de lluvia recién inicia su aparición, mientras que en diciembre dicha temporada ha finalizado, pero aún persiste la influencia de la temporada lluviosa en el agua superficial del mar.…”

“…A pesar de la importancia del zooplancton en los aspectos ecológicos fundamentales del ecosistema marino, como es su papel en las redes alimentarias oceánicas (depredadores y presas) y con ello su enorme contribución en los ciclos biogeoquímicos, su flujo vertical, y la transferencia de la energía, su conocimiento en el ambiente natural ha tenido un modesto incremento desde su descubrimiento hace más de 100 años (Hofman & Klinck, 2001). De forma esencial, los estudios de plancton en la región de estudio son exiguos tanto en el fitoplancton (Rojas-Herrera et al, 2012;Meave-del Castillo, Zamudio-Resendiz, & Castillo-Rivera, 2012;Moreno-Díaz et al, 2015) como en el zooplancton (Balleza-García & Nestor-Cervantes, 1992;Martínez, 2004;Ramírez-Rosas, 2004).…”