Effects of Geostrophic Kinetic Energy on the Distribution of Mesopelagic Fish Larvae in the Southern Gulf of California in Summer/Fall Stratified Seasons

Effects of geostrophic kinetic energy flux on the three-dimensional distribution of fish larvae of mesopelagic species (Vinciguerria lucetia, Diogenichthys laternatus, Benthosema panamense and Triphoturus mexicanus) in the southern Gulf of California during summer and fall seasons of stronger strati...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:PloS one 2016-10, Vol.11 (10), p.e0164900-e0164900
Main Authors: Contreras-Catala, Fernando, Sánchez-Velasco, Laura, Beier, Emilio, Godínez, Victor M, Barton, Eric D, Santamaría-Del-Angel, Eduardo
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Abundance
Animals
Benthosema panamense
Biology and Life Sciences
California
Diogenichthys laternatus
Dominant species
Earth Sciences
Ecology and Environmental Sciences
Eddies
Energy
Energy (Physics)
Energy distribution
Energy flux
Fish
Fishes
Fishes - growth & development
Kinetic energy
Larva - growth & development
Larvae
Mesoscale eddies
Ocean circulation
Pelagic zone
Physical Sciences
Plankton
Population Dynamics
Pycnoclines
Sampling
Seasons
Seawater
Species Specificity
Stations
Summer
Triphoturus mexicanus
Vinciguerria lucetia
Vortices
Water column
Water stratification
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Summary:Effects of geostrophic kinetic energy flux on the three-dimensional distribution of fish larvae of mesopelagic species (Vinciguerria lucetia, Diogenichthys laternatus, Benthosema panamense and Triphoturus mexicanus) in the southern Gulf of California during summer and fall seasons of stronger stratification were analyzed. The greatest larval abundance was found at sampling stations in geostrophic kinetic energy-poor areas ( 21 J/m3), where mesoscale eddies were present, the larvae of the dominant species had low abundance and were spread more evenly through the water column, in spite of the water column stratification. For example, in a cyclonic eddy, V. lucetia larvae (34 larvae/10m2) extended their distribution to, at least, the limit of sampling 200 m depth below the pycnocline, while D. laternatus larvae (29 larvae/10m2) were found right up to the surface, both probably as a consequence mixing and secondary circulation in the eddy. Results showed that the level of the geostrophic kinetic energy flux affects the abundance and the three-dimensional distribution of mesopelagic fish larvae during the seasons of stronger stratification, indicating that areas with low geostrophic kinetic energy may be advantageous for feeding and development of mesopelagic fish larvae because of greater water column stability.
ISSN:1932-6203
1932-6203
DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0164900