TITLE:
Ecological Zonation of Phytoplankton and Biomass Based on Bio-Optical Parameters off Baja California during Three Summer Seasons
AUTHORS:
Sánchez-Pérez Elvia Denisse, Millán-Núñez Eduardo
KEYWORDS:
Ecological Zonation, Phytoplankton, Bio-Optics, El Niño Débil
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Marine Science,
Vol.9 No.3,
July
22,
2019
ABSTRACT: An
ecological zonation of phytoplankton was determined from its normalized
spectral absorption shape (aphn)
during the summers of 2001-02-03 off the west coast of Baja California. In the
first two seasons, the highest abundances of the main taxonomic groups of
phytoplankton were detected towards the coastal stations, but for 2003, diatoms
showed higher abundances towards the oceanic region. The ecological provinces
(Pv) were the footprint of the zonation in the structure of the phytoplankton
community; likewise, it was observed that the spectral shape was independent of
the chlorophyll-a (mg·m-3). The effect of coastal upwelling south of Vizcaíno
Bay favored the increase of phytoplankton cells. However, the composition of
the community decreased in cells abundance and diversity due to the influence
of the phenomenon called El Nino “débil” reported to the south of the
California Current for the years 2002-03.