Influence de la circulation à long terme sur la répartition des organismes zooplanctoniques dans la Baie de Campeche, Mexique

Abstract

A space-time approach is adopted in an attempt to understand the long-term influence of currents on the spatial pattern distribution of zooplankton, ichthyoplankton, and fish larvae communities in the Bay of Campeche, Mexico. The analysis is performed using results of a hydrodynamic numerical model, and zooplankton and ichthyoplankton abundances. Three fish larvae communities were identified in the Bay, on the basis of its physiography, i.e.: “neritic fluvio lagoon influence”, “neritic” and “oceanic” communities. A cyclonic eddy is formed in the Bay and drifts westward, facilitating transport and distribution of planktonic organisms. The eddy provides larvae transport from oceanic areas to the coastal areas and vice-versa. The seasonal distribution of fish larvae is highly influenced by the position of the eddy. The biomass pattern and fish larvae density observed in the coastal area off the Grijalva-Usumacinta delta are governed by the coastal front.