Mass fish die-off during a diatom bloom in the Bahía de La Paz, Gulf of California

Authors

  • David Javier López-Cortés Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas del Noroeste (CIBNOR), Instituto Politécnico Nacional 195, Col. Playa Palo de Santa Rita, La Paz, B.C.S. 23096, México
  • Erick Julián Núñez-Vázquez Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas del Noroeste (CIBNOR), Instituto Politécnico Nacional 195, Col. Playa Palo de Santa Rita, La Paz, B.C.S. 23096, México. Investigación para la Conservación y el Desarrollo A. C. (INCODE), Andador 2 #245. Col. Banobras, La Paz, B.C.S. 23080, México.
  • Christine Johanna Band-Schmidt Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Centro Interdisciplinario de Ciencias Marinas (CICIMAR-IPN), Av. Instituto Politécnico Nacional s/n, Col. Playa Palo de Santa Rita, La Paz, B.C.S. 23096, México
  • Ismael Gárate-Lizárraga Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Centro Interdisciplinario de Ciencias Marinas (CICIMAR-IPN), Av. Instituto Politécnico Nacional s/n, Col. Playa Palo de Santa Rita, La Paz, B.C.S. 23096, México
  • Francisco Eduardo Hernández-Sandoval Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas del Noroeste (CIBNOR), Instituto Politécnico Nacional 195, Col. Playa Palo de Santa Rita, La Paz, B.C.S. 23096, México
  • José Jesús Bustillos-Guzmán Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas del Noroeste (CIBNOR), Instituto Politécnico Nacional 195, Col. Playa Palo de Santa Rita, La Paz, B.C.S. 23096, México

Keywords:

Domoic acid, fish mortality, Gulf of California, Pseudo-nitzschia, Thalassiosira

Abstract

An unusual fish die-off occurred during a bloom of diatoms from June 10th July 3rd 2006 in Bahía de La Paz in the Gulf of California. The prevalent organisms were Pseudo-nitzschia spp. (2.4 × 106 cells L1), Thalassiosira eccentrica (2.3 × 106 cells L1) and Chaetoceros spp. (9.65 x 105 cells L1). Three toxic species were identified: P. pseudodelicatissima-complex, P. fraudulenta, and P. pungens. Fucoxanthin was the dominant pigment during the bloom, peaking at 9.3 ?g L1. Sea surface temperature dramatically increased from 19.0 °C to 27.0 °C during the bloom, with inorganic nitrogen (1.0 ± 0.6 ?M) and Si(OH)4 (15.5 ± 8.0 ?M). Low content of domoic acid measured by HPLC-UV from net samples ranged from 24.0 to 52.0 ng per filter and tissue of the chocolate clam Megapitaria squalida (0.55 ?g g1) and the white clam Dosinia ponderosa (0.06 ?g g1). Domoic acid analysis of dead fish tissues was negative. Fish necropsy indicated that death by asphyxia was probably caused by Thalassiosira eccentrica and Chaetoceros spp. Alternate mixing processes and instability of the water column, as well as sudden changes of both temperature and nutrients created conditions for proliferation of the diatoms.

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Published

2019-01-14

How to Cite

López-Cortés, D. J., Núñez-Vázquez, E. J., Band-Schmidt, C. J., Gárate-Lizárraga, I., Hernández-Sandoval, F. E., & Bustillos-Guzmán, J. J. (2019). Mass fish die-off during a diatom bloom in the Bahía de La Paz, Gulf of California. HIDROBIOLÓGICA, 25(1), 39–48. Retrieved from https://hidrobiologica.izt.uam.mx/hidrobiologica/index.php/revHidro/article/view/460

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