Comparación de la mortalidad en larvas de Vinciguerria lucetia, Sardinops sagax caerulea y Opisthonema libertate en la costa occidental de Baja California Sur, México

Abstract

Vinciluenia lucetia is frequently encountered in zooplankton samples taken from the California Current and since this specie competes for food with Sardinops sagax c. and Opisthonema libertate, a study was undertaken of the abundance and mortality of V. lucetia, S. sagax, and O. libertate larvae, from samples taken in July, August and December of 1982. The distribution of each specie is given and larval mortality is estimated using Weibull's Model. Best estimates of true mortality for V. lucetia and O. libertate are considered to be in August because this month coincides with maximum abundance and reproductive activity. Changes in the mortality curves can be related to the development of important locomotive structures in the larvae for all three species. The presence of both S. sagax and O. libeitate larvae in the area of San Ignacio indicates an area with favorable conditions for the survival of these larvae.