Abstract

ORDONEZ-LOPEZ, Uriel  and  ORNELAS-ROA, Margarita. Variations of the planktonic copepod community in the estuarine-coastal gradient of Celestun, Yucatan, Mexico. Hidrobiológica [online]. 2003, vol.13, n.3, pp.231-238. ISSN 0188-8897.

Zooplankton samples were collected monthly (from July 1994 to June 1995) to determine variations in abundance of planktonic copepods along the estuarine-coastal gradient in Celestun, Yucatan, México. From 17 copepod species, Acartia tonsa (51.8 %), A. lilljeborgii (12.2 %) and Pseudodiaptomus cokeri (30.8 %) were the most abundant species. Labidocera was the most diverse genus. Variation in species abundance was related mainly with gradients in salinity, temperature and biomass. The highest species richness was recorded in the mouth of the estuary due to a bigger exchange and mixture between the estuarine and marine fauna. The main features of the copepod community at Celestun are similar to those found in other regional coastal lagoons.

Keywords : Distribution; copepods; Celestun estuary; Yucatan; Mexico.

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