Composition and Dynamics of Mesozooplankton Assemblages in the Bahía Blanca Estuary.

HOFFMEYER MÓNICA SUSANA; FERNÁNDEZ SEVERINI MELISA DAIANA; MENÉNDEZ MARÍA CLARA; BERASATEGUI ANABELA ANAHÍ; BIANCALANA FLORENCIA

Perspectives on Integrated Coastal Zone management in South America.

IST Press

Lugar: Lisboa (Portugal); Año: 2008; p. 273 - 277

In addition to its important role in the cycling of natural elements and pollutants in estuaries and other aquatic ecosystems, zooplankton makes up a high percentage of the total secondary production supporting the upper components of ecosystems. This community therefore constitutes the natural structural and functional link between primary producers and the benthic and pelagic organisms of higher autonomy and size. In estuaries, these heterotrophic organisms are successfully adapted to highly variable conditions and present a great tolerance to a wide range of environments stressors. Estuarine zooplankton is also much more tolerant to higher perturbation levels (pollution by toxic chemicals, dredging, eutrophication) than that from continental shelf waters. Research on the biology, ecology and biodiversity of mesozooplankton assemblages in the Bahía Blanca estuary date back to approximately 30 years ago, giving rise to a large database of accumulated information. More studies have been carried out on zooplankton from the Main Channel and the inner zone of the Bahía Blanca estuary than that from the outer zone. The inner zone is the area that has suffered most modification as a consequence of a combination of anthropogenic pressures including those of an industrial nature (oil refineries, petrochemical industries) and those related to domestic sewage, dredging and maritime traffic. This chapter provides information on the mesozooplankton assemblages in the Bahía Blanca estuary and the changes that have occurred over the last decades.