Temporal Variation in Composition and Abundance of Phytoplankton Species during 2011 and 2012 in Acapulco Bay, Mexico

Giovanni Moreno-Díaz¹, Agustín A. Rojas-Herrera², Juan Violante-González², Justiniano González-González¹, José Luis Rosas Acevedo¹, Sergio García Ibáñez²

¹Unidad de Ciencias de Desarrollo Regional, Universidad Autónoma de Guerrero, Acapulco, México.
²Unidad Académica de Ecología Marina, Universidad Autónoma de Guerrero, Acapulco, México.

DOI: 10.4236/ojms.2015.53029                

Abstract

Phytoplankton samples were collected in Acapulco Bay during 2011 (January-April and September) and 2012 (April-July, October, and November) with the objective of determining the abundance and species composition. Samples were collected in two stations located in the bay. A total of 82 species were identified: 42 dinoflagellates, 35 diatoms, three cyanobacteria, and two silicoflagellates. Dinoflagellates were more abundant in the dry season, while diatoms dominated during rainy season. At least seven dinoflagellate species were recorded as potentially toxic, which may increase their populations and turn into harmful algal blooms (HABs) if environmental conditions within the bay are modified. In April 2012 a HAB of the non-toxic species Neoceratium balechii was documented.

Keywords

Marine Phytoplankton, Species Composition, Acapulco Bay, Mexico

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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