Spatial and Temporal Distribution of Zooplankton Biomass in the Gulf of Tehuantepec, Mexico

Abstract

Spatial and temporal zooplankton biomass distribution obtained during three oceanographic cruises in the Gulf of Tehuantepec, Mexico, located between 14°30'-16°12' N and 92°00'-96°30' W, in the eastern tropical Pacific Ocean in January, May, and November, 1989, is presented. Samples were obtained by double-oblique hauls with a 333-505 um bongo net. The study was done with samples from the 333-J-Lm net, extrapolating the values to g/100 m3 of wet weight. In January, values between 78 and 3,340 g/100 m3 were found; results in May were between 143 and 6,920 g/100 m3; and in November, between 27 and 2,290 g/100 m3 . We consider that the distributions obtained in January and in November were induced by upwelling and the contribution of the coastal lagoons. In May, zooplanktonic biomass was determined by the prevailing currents that ascend over the Chiapas continental slope.