Fitoplancton costero en Cabo Marzo y Punta Cruces, margen nororiental del Océano Pacífico colombiano

Abstract

The community structure (abundance, richness, diversity, equitability and dominance) and the relationship with abiotic factors (temperature, salinity and transparency) of the coastal phytoplankton near Cabo Marzo and Punta Cruces, northeastern margin of Colombian Pacific Ocean, were investigated. Both sites have been identified as potential places to implement a marine-costal protected area of special management. 86 species were identified in Cabo Marzo (51 were diatoms, 30 dinoflagellates, 3 cyanophytes and 2 silicoflagellates) and 112 species were identified in Punta Cruces (62 were diatoms, 42 dinoflagellates, 5 cyanophytes and 3 silicoflagellates), being the dissimilarity between localities of 41.55 % (Bray-Curtis dissimilarity index). No significant difference in density were detected (t16; 0.05 = 1.80; p = 0.091). Chaetaceros laevis was de dominant taxa in Cabo Marzo, while Ceratium fusus and C. furca were the dominant species in Punta Cruces. A significant correlation between phytoplankton community and salinity in the study zone was detected (ρs = 0.41). Although the results of this investigation have a limited temporal and geographical applicability, these provide relevant and novel information about the coastal phytoplankton community from one of the zones fewer explored in the Pacific coast of Colombia.