Phytoplankton oceanographic characterization during El Niño 2004 event in the Northwest region of Baja California, Mexico

• Main Authors: Miranda-Alvarez, A. C., Millan-Nuñez, E.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Universidad Autónoma de Nayarit 2016-09-01
• Series: Revista Bio Ciencias
• Subjects: Phytoplankton; El Niño
• Online Access: http://editorial.uan.edu.mx/BIOCIENCIAS/article/view/183/252

An oceanographic cruise in front of the Coast of Baja California was carried from the 9th to the 29th day of July in 2004, in 91 stations at 10 m depth. The aim of this study was to identify the variability of phytoplankton and its oceanographic characterization in the coast-ocean region during an anomalous year with El Niño characteristics. Results showed a taxonomic composition of 21 phytoplankton genera in an interval size called nano-microphytoplankton: Gymnodinium, Scrippsiella, Ceratium, Coscinodiscus, Oxytoxum, Gyrodinium, Protoperidinium, Nitzschia, Gonyaulax. On the other hand, spatial distribution of light absorption coefficient for phytoplankton (aph440) and chlorophyll-a (Chl-a) concentration showed high values in front of the San Quintin coast and south of Punta Eugenia, detecting a clear decrease towards the oceanic zone. In regard to the taxonomic composition of phytoplankton, a dominance of dinoflagellates in contrast to diatoms was observed, results coinciding with the basic characteristics of phytoplankton ecology during an El Niño event.