Estudio sobre la diversidad de Pontellidae en la zona de confluencia del Mar de Cortés y el Océano Pacífico en julio de 1991

Abstract

The species composition of Pontellid copepod species found in the Sea of Cortés and Pacific Ocean coastal waters along Southem Baja California during July 1991 is presented. My main purpose was to determine species abundance and distribution in this area, nearest to the tip of the Baja California Peninsula. The samples were obtained with a CalCOFI net. The species identified were Labidocera acula, Labidocera acutifrons, Labidocera trispinosa, Labidocera detruncata, Labidocera euchaeta, Labidocera johnsoni, Pontellina plumata, Pontella annata, Pontella spinicauda, Pontella securifer, Pontella agassizi, Pontellopsis regalis, Pontellopsis tenuicauda, Pontellopsis yamadae and Pontellopsis sp. The sea surface temperature in the study area wasbetween 212 - 28.9°C. The surface thermal features were related to pontellid copepod species richness, distribution and abundance. The dominant species were Labidocera trispinosa, Labidocera johnsonü and Labidocera acutifrons.