Distribución espacial del fitoplancton asociada con frentes en la costa occidental de Baja California Sur

Abstract

The California Current water transport toward the Baja California coast during August and September 1985 produced fronts in the zone extending from Bahía S Juanico to Bahía Magdalena. A saline density gradient appeared as a result of the surface circulation pattern. The warmest, saltiest, and least dense water (tropical water was present closest to the coast in the upper 25 m. The coldest, least salty and dense water was present in the oceanic zone (water from the California Current). The submergence of the denser layer was observed principally in the region north of Bahía Magdalena. Large amounts of nannoplankton were found at the convergence zone above the thermocline. The largest nuclei of the microphytoplankton were formed b chain-forming diatoms of the genus Nitzschia, which were present in the pycnocline level. All water types were identified by means of microphytoplankton species found.