Non-predatory mortality assessment of zooplankton in Magdalena Bay, Mexico, during El Niño 2015.

Abstract

Abstract During 2015, monthly zooplankton sampling and measurements of surface temperature (SST), salinity, dissolved oxygen and chlorophyll a were conducted. Collections were made during neap tides at four locations between the inner and near the mouth of Magdalena Bay, Mexico. Thirty-three taxonomic groups were identified, and the most abundant taxa were copepods, diplostracans, decapods, ichthyoplankton (fish eggs) and chaetognaths. Zooplankton abundance did not vary significantly over time, but did vary between sampling stations. SST and salinity were significantly correlated with the spatial distribution of organisms. Differences were found between the mortality percentages for the sampling stations and also for the taxonomic groups analyzed (Copepods 18%; Decapods 32%; Chaetognaths 33%), which implies the importance of carrying out mortality determination analyses in ecological studies of zooplankton.