TITLE:
Temporal Variation in Composition and Abundance of Phytoplankton Species during 2011 and 2012 in Acapulco Bay, Mexico
AUTHORS:
Giovanni Moreno-Díaz, Agustín A. Rojas-Herrera, Juan Violante-González, Justiniano González-González, José Luis Rosas Acevedo, Sergio García Ibáñez
KEYWORDS:
Marine Phytoplankton, Species Composition, Acapulco Bay, Mexico
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Marine Science,
Vol.5 No.3,
July
30,
2015
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.