Abstract
Primary productivity data from 6 cruises in the Gulf of California are summarized. A total of 31 stations with 133 samples was available. The Gulf of California represents a subtropical area with exceptionally high rates of primary productivity. This fact may be accounted for by temporary seasonal upwelling, a wind-mixed water column down to the shallow thermocline, especially in the northern part of the Gulf, and by tidal mixing, especially in the Ballenas Channel between Baja California and the island Angel de la Guardia. Rates of primary productivity in the Gulf of California are comparable to those in areas such as the Bay of Bengal, the upwelling areas off the west coast of Baja California, or North Africa. They are about 2 to 3 times greater than that in the open Atlantic or the open Pacific at similar latitudes.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
Literature cited
Arthur, R. S.: On the calculation of vertical motion in Eastern Boundary Currents from determinations of horizontal motion. J. geophys. Res. 70, 2799–2803 (1965).
Austin, R. W. and R. W. Loudermilk: An oceanographic illuminometer for light penetration and reflection studies. Univ. Calif. Rep. Scripps Instn Oceanogr. (SIO) Ref. 68-11, 1–10 (1968).
Becacos-Kontos, T.: The annual cycle of primary production in the Saronicos Gulf (Aegean Sea) for the period November 1963–October 1964. Limnol. Oceanogr. 13, 485–489 (1968).
Beers, J. R., D. M. Steven and J. B. Lewis: Primary productivity in the Caribbean Sea off Jamaica and the Tropical North Atlantic off Barbados. Bull. mar. Sci. 18, 86–104 (1968).
Brouardel, J. and E. Rinck: Mesure de la productivité organique en Méditerranée, dans les parages de Monaco, à l'aide du 14C. Annls Inst. océanogr. Monaco (N.S.) 40, 109–164 (1963).
Doty, M. S., H. R. Jitts, O. J. Koblentz-Mishke and Y. Saijo: Intercalibration of marine plankton primary productivity techniques. Limnol. Oceanogr. 10, 282–286 (1965).
Dyson, N., H. R. Jitts and B. D. Scott: Techniques for measuring oceanic primary production using radioactive carbon. Tech. Pap. Div. Fish. Oceanogr. C.S.I.R.O. Aust. No. 18, 12pp. (1965).
Gilbert, F. Y. and W. E. Allen: The phytoplankton of the Gulf of California obtained by the “E. W. Scripps” in 1939 and 1940. J. mar. Res. 5, 89–110 (1943).
Grifetths, R. C.: Physical, chemical, and biological oceanography of the entrance to the Gulf of California, Spring of 1960. Spec. scient. Rep. U.S. Fish. Wildl. Serv. Fisheries No. 573, 47 pp. (1968).
Holmes, R. W.: Surface chlorophyll a, surface primary production, and zooplankton volumes in the Eastern Pacific Ocean. Rapp. P.-v. Réun Cons. perm. int. Explor. Mer 144, 109–116 (1958).
Jitts, H. R.: The simulated in situ measurement of oceanic primary production. Aust. J. mar. Freshwat. Res. 14, 139–147 (1963).
Jitts, H. R.: Data collected by the Australian participants during the May, 1968 sea trials of the SCOR/UNESCO Working Group 15 on “Photosynthetic radiation in the sea” in the Gulf of California on board the “Ellen B. Scripps”. Rep. Div. Fish. Oceanogr. C.S.I.R.O. Aust. 43 (1969). (in press).
Leet, W. S. and M. R. Stevenson: Oceanographic observations for the Mazatlan project: October 1966–August 1967. Data Rep. inter-am. trop. Tuna Commn No. 3, 249 pp. (1969). [English and Spanish].
Nellen, W.: Horizontale und vertikale Verteilung der Planktonproduktion im Golf von Guinea und in angrenzenden Meeresgebieten während der Monate Februar bis März 1964. Kieler Meeresforsch. 23, 48–67 (1967).
Roden, G. I.: Oceanographic and meteorological aspects of the Gulf of California. Pacif. Sci. 12, 21–45 (1958).
— and G. W. Groves: Recent oceanographic investigations in the Gulf of California. J. mar. Res. 18, 10–35 (1959).
Round, F. E.: The phytoplankton of the Gulf of California Part 1. Its composition, distribution and contribution to the sediments. J. exp. mar. Biol. Ecol. 1, 76–97 (1967).
Ryther, J. H. and D. W. Menzel: The seasonal and geographical range of primary production in the western Sargasso Sea. Deep Sea Res. 6, 235–238 (1960).
—: Primary production in the southwest Sargasso Sea, January–February 1960. Bull. mar. Sci. Gulf Caribb. 11, 381–388 (1961).
—: On the production, composition, and distribution of organic matter in the Western Arabian Sea. Deep Sea Res. 12, 199–209 (1965).
Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California: CCOFI cruise 6311 (El Golfo). Data Rep. Scripps Instn Oceanogr. (SIO) Ref. 65-1, 8 pp. (1964).
Scripps Institution of Oceanography Data Rep. Scripps Instn Oceanogr. (SIO) Ref. 66-2, 15 pp. (1965).
Scripps Institution of Oceanography CCOFI cruise 6505 (El Golfo II). Scripps Instn Oceanogr. (SIO) Ref. 67-16, 8 pp. (1967 a).
Scripps Institution of Oceanography Cruise TO-60-1. Data Rep. Scripps Instn Oceanogr. (SIO) Ref. 67-24, 33 pp. (1967 b).
Scripps Institution of Oceanography Cruise TO-64-1 and cruise TO-64-2, Data Rep. Scripps Instn Oceanogr. (SIO) Ref. 69-4, 57 pp. (1969).
Shepard, F. P.: 1940 “E. W. Scripps” cruise to the Gulf of California. Part III. Submarine topography of the Gulf of California. Mem. geol. Soc. Amer. 43, 1–32 (1950).
Steemann Nielsen, E.: The use of radio-active carbon for measuring organic production in the sea. J. Cons. perm. int. Explor. Mer 18, 117–140 (1952).
—: On the determination of the activity in 14C ampoules for measuring primary production. Limnol. Oceanogr. 10 (Suppl.), 247–252 (1965).
— and E. A. Jensen: Primary oceanic production. The autotrophic production of organic matter in the oceans. Galathea Rep. 1, 49–136 (1957).
Sverdrup, H. U. and Staff: Research within physical oceanography and submarine geology at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography during April 1940 to spring 1941. Trans. Am. geophys. Un. 21, 490–495 (1940).
Thomas, W. H. and A. N. Dodson: Effects of phosphate concentration on cell division rates and yield of a tropical oceanic diatom. Biol. Bull. mar. biol. Lab., Woods Hole 134, 199–208 (1968).
Wooster, W. S., M. B. Schaefer and M. K. Robinson: Atlas of the Arabian Sea for fishery oceanography. Univ. Calif. IMR Ref. 67-12, 35 pp., 140 pl. (1967).
Wyrtki, K.: The thermal structure of the eastern Pacific Ocean. Dt. hydrogr. Z. (Erg. H.) A 6, 6–84 (1964).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Communicated by G. L. Voss, Miami
Contribution from the Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California, San Diego. This work was part of the Scripps Tuna Oceanography Research Program. It was supported by the Bureau of Commercial Fisheries under contract number 14-17-0007-963. Shiptime was provided from funds of the National Science Foundation.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Zeitzschel, B. Primary productivity in the Gulf of California. Marine Biology 3, 201–207 (1969). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00360952
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00360952