Abstract
The composition, abundance, species richness and structural changes of the planktonic polychaete assemblages were analysed along a latitudinal transect in the California Current System (California, U.S.A. and Baja California, Mexico). The biological (species and abundance) and physical (temperature and salinity) data were analysed using Principal Component Analysis (PCA). The principal water masses in the survey area were determined. Twenty-four holoplanktonic species belonging to families Alciopidae, Iospilidae, Lopadorhynchidae, Tomopteridae and Typhloscolecidae were identified. Three clear species assemblages were discerned in the PCA results: 1. A ‘north group’ (from Oregon-California border to San Francisco), with relatively high species richness (11) and the highest mean abundance (121 ind. per 500 m3) was characterised byTomopteris septentrionalis, T. planktonis, Plotohelmis tenuis, and Travisiopis lobifera. California Current Water and Subtropical Central Water were present in the area occupied by this assemblage. 2. A ‘south group’ (from off Bahía Magdalena to Cabo San Lucas), with the highest species richness (16), but low mean abundance (37.8 ind. per 500 m3); it included tropical affinity species, such Lopadorhynchus henseni, Tomopteris nationalis, and Travisiopsis dubia. In concordance Surface Equatorial Water was identified in this region. 3. A ‘transition group’ (between the north and south regions) recorded the lowest mean abundance (2.3 ind. per 500 m3) and species richness (9). Only the California Current Water was detected in this area. The spatial pattern of species richness found along of this transect, was at least, partially due to the planktonic productivity distribution in the epipelagic region and the influence of several water masses coming from different directions.
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Fernández-Alamo, M.A., Sanvicente-Añorve, L., Alatorre-Mendieta, M.A. (2003). Changes in pelagic Polychaete assemblages along the California current system. In: Sigvaldadóttir, E., et al. Advances in Polychaete Research. Developments in Hydrobiology, vol 170. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-017-0655-1_31
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-017-0655-1_31
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