Caracterización temporal de variables hidroquímicas, fitoplancton y zooplancton en dos sitios de la península de Yucatán: Dzilam y Cabo Catoche

MARINA, TOMÁS IGNACIO; HERRERA-SILVEIRA, JORGE ALFREDO

Congreso; XX Congreso Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología del Mar; 2013

The characterization of an ecosystem aims to describe the different components that shape it and to identify the interactions and processes that represent it. The magnitude of plankton morphological, physiological and structural adaptations depends on spatial scale and hydrographic conditions. The objective of this study is to characterize and identify the hydrochemical variables that cause changes in the phytoplankton and zooplankton community in the Yucatan Peninsula. Two localities (Dzilam and Cabo Catoche) were studied. Surface water samples were collected in June, August and November 2012 according to a specific design (10 station transect perpendicular to the shoreline). Variance analysis showed that hydrochemical and planktonic features were significantly different temporally among sites. Redundancy Analysis (RDA) showed differences regarding the association between hydrochemical variables and plankton density in both study sites. Specifically, the RDA of the hydrochemical variables and density of plankton groups in Dzilam revealed significant association of the plankton groups with chlorophyll-a, dissolved oxygen and salinity, while in Cabo Catoche this analysis revealed significant association of the plankton groups with salinity, surface temperature, zooplankton biomass and ammonium. In Dzilam, point discharges and shallow water depths promoted salinity gradients, phytoplankton patches and re-suspension of inorganic particulate matter. This supports the hypothesis that the coastal dynamic of Dzilam is greatly influenced by subterranean water discharges. In Cabo Catoche plankton abundance and distribution depends on thermo-haline (temperature and salinity) and chemical (nutrients) processes regulated by the coastal upwelling. This study will help to better understand which hydrochemical variables produce changes in the plankton community on the northern coast of the Yucatan Peninsula.