Influences of El Niño on assemblages of mesopelagic fish larvae along the Pacific coast of Baja California Sur |
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Authors: | RENÉ FUNES-RODRÍ GUEZ ,ALEJANDRO HINOJOSA-MEDINA,GERARDO ACEVES-MEDINA,SYLVIA P. A. JIMÉ NEZ-ROSENBERG, J. JESÚ S BAUTISTA-ROMERO |
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Affiliation: | Centro Interdisciplinario de Ciencias Marinas-Instituto Politécnico Nacional (CICIMAR-IPN), A. P 592. La Paz, Baja California Sur 23096, México; Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas del Noroeste (CIBNOR) Mar Bermejo #195, Col. Playa Palo de Santa Rita, La Paz, Baja California Sur 23090, México |
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Abstract: | Seasonal assemblages of mesopelagic fish larvae and changes related with environmental factors (plankton biomass, sea surface temperature anomaly, upwelling, and the multivariate El Niño index) were investigated. From 1982 to 1987, 16 oceanographic cruises were carried out along the Pacific coast of Baja California Sur, Mexico. Larvae of 42 mesopelagic fish taxa were collected. Larval abundance was highly variable during the studied period, but summer months coincided with higher abundance (>200 larvae under 10 m2). Larval assemblages were dominated by three of the most common species of tropical (Vinciguerria lucetia, Diogenichthys laternatus) and subtropical affinity (Triphoturus mexicanus). A group of species of tropical affinity (Diplophos proximus, Diaphus pacificus, Benthosema panamense) was useful for distinguishing the 1982–84 El Niño event, and an assemblage of larvae of temperate affinity (Symbolophorus californiensis, Melamphaes lugubris, Bathylagus ochotensis, Leuroglossus stilbius, Protomyctophum crockeri) characterized ‘normal’ years (mid‐1984 to mid‐1987). |
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Keywords: | Baja California coast California Current El Niño fish larvae assemblages mesopelagic |
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