Distribution of functional groups of phytoplankton in the euphotic zone during an annual cycle in Bahía de La Paz, Gulf of California

Abstract

Irradiance plays an important role in the distribution of functional groups of phytoplankton in the euphotic zone. To characterize the environmental variability of the euphotic zone (in three levels of irradiance, 100, 10 and 1%) and its influence on the functional groups, the latter were studied. Similarly, changes in the structure of the microphytoplankton functional groups were determined as a response to the variability of hydrological conditions. Thus, results of the vertical distribution of microphytoplankton at three light quantity levels during an annual cycle (June 2000-June 2001) at a fixed sampling site in Bahí­a de La Paz (24° 21.284 N; 110° 26.294 W) are presented. A total of 62 taxa were identified: 45 diatom species (72.58%), 11 dinoflagellate species (17.74%), 3 species of silicoflagellates (4.83%), 1 ciliate species (1.61%), 1 cyanophyte (1.61%), and 1 coccolithophorid (1.61%). A higher abundance of diatoms was observed in the uppermost surface layer, while dinoflagellates were more abundant at the 10% irradiance level of the euphotic zone lower limit; silicoflagellates, although in a lesser magnitude, associated with the limit of the euphotic zone. Diatoms usually dominated, followed by dinoflagellates; this occurred at all three light quantity levels of the euphotic zone through the year. Environmental conditions during the warm period (>23°C) favored dinoflagellates; during the water-column homogenization period (December-April) conditions favored heterotrophic Protoperidinium species inhabiting the layers above or below the thermocline. However, the integration of species assemblages during the period of the homogenous water column was not clear due to mixing of different phytoplankton assemblages coming from different depth levels.