Chaetognath assemblages along the Pacific Coast and adjacent inland waters of the Philippines: relative importance of oceanographic and biological factors

Abstract

Abstract Noblezada, M. M. P., and Campos, W. L. 2012. Chaetognath assemblages along the Pacific Coast and adjacent inland waters of the Philippines: relative importance of oceanographic and biological factors. – ICES Journal of Marine Science, 69: 410–420. When studying plankton distribution, it is necessary to investigate the biology of the target organisms and the surrounding physical environment. Station and species groupings are only useful if they provide insight into the environmental associations of the species in the group. The study covers two geographic regions: the Pacific Coast (Bicol Shelf) and inland waters (San Bernardino Strait, Ticao Pass, Sibuyan, and Visayan Seas) of the Philippines. Comprehensive information is provided on chaetognath assemblages and distribution within the regions. The findings are integrated with oceanographic conditions and phenomena that define the characteristics of the subareas and consideration given to how these conditions affect chaetognath ecology. A comparison is also provided of the community structure of the two regions, and the possible use of chaetognaths as indicator species of water mass movement and oceanographic phenomena explored. In all, 28 284 specimens were examined, and 33 species from 17 genera were identified. Chaetognath distributions, abundance, and community structure were analysed using dissimilarity indices and multiple regression. The results show that the distribution of chaetognaths agrees well with the movement of oceanic water from the Pacific into the central part of the archipelago.