A multi-Species Microalgae Bloom in Bahia de La Paz, Gulf of California, México (June 2008)

Abstract

Red tides Patches were observed in Bahía de La Paz in June 17 and 18 of 2008. According to temperature and wind data this bloom occurred under upwelling-like conditions. Examination of the red tide samples showed that the ciliate Myrionecta rubra and two naked dinoflagellates Gyrodinium instriatum and Katodinium glaucum as the main species responsible for this bloom Total density (microalgae and ciliate) at the sampling stations was similar on both days, varying from 4607 × 103 to cells L-1 to 4976 × 103 cells L-1 on the first day, and from 4172 × 103 cells L-1 to 5024 × 103 cells L-1 on the second day. Phytoplankton biomass (chlorophyll a) observed during the first day of the bloom was 1.5 mg m-3. Dinoflagellates and diatoms were the most numerically important phytoplankton groups. The phytoplankton community showed a high species richness, particularly heterotrophic dinoflagellates and ebridians. The ecological importance of the heterotrophic component of naked dinoflagellates and the ebriids for this bay is discussed.