Mesozooplankton variation and its relationship with the anthropogenic influence in Ushuaia and Golondrina bays ( Beagle Channel, Argentina)

FLORENCIA BIANCALANA; MÓNICA S. HOFFMEYER; ANABELLA A. BERASATEGUI; M. SOLEDAD DIODATO; FACUNDO BARRERA

Sao Paulo, Iguape, Cananéia (Brasil)

Congreso; Antropicosta Iberoamerica; 2010

Instituto Oceanográfico da Universidade de São Paulo (Brasil

Ushuaia city and its surroundings have suffered an important population increase during the last years, as that recorded in the whole Patagonian region. Consequently, an remarkable increase of sewage discharge, storm drain and industrial effluents were occurred, which even today are discharged without any treatment into Ushuaia (UB) and Golondrina (GB) bays (54¨¬79'S-68¨¬22'W and 54¨¬85'S-68¨¬36'W). This situation produces a differentiation between coastal areas with anthropogenic influence and these remotes areas in contact with Beagle Channel, in both bays. The purpose of this work is to analyze and compare the changes in the characteristics of mesozooplankton between impacted areas and zones free of antrhropic influence in both bays taking into account the abundance and the spatial-temporal dynamics of mesozooplankton. Sampling was carried out from 22 and 7 stations in UB and GB, respectively, every three months from August 2004 to June 2005. Mesozooplankton samples were collected by subsurface town using a 200 ¥ìm mesh- 0.30 m open-mouth net containing a mechanical flowmeter. The data of temperature, salinity, inorganic nutrients (nitrate, nitrite, ammonium, phosphate and silicate), chlorophyll -a and pheophitin were also measured and determined, as a part of the project PICTR N¨¬ 090/2002 (ANPCYT).