Longitud y biomasa de Sargassum sinicola Setchell et Gardner (Phaeophyta) en Bahía Magdalena, B.C.S., México

Abstract

Ten samplings were carried out between March 1987 and February 1988 in the distribution area of Sargassum sinicola in Bahía Magdalena, Baja California Sur. The main objective of this study was to relate the temperature, ligth and nutrients, with the length and biomass of Sargassum sinicola. The maximun mean length (0.4m) was twice of that reported for the northern Gulf of California populations. However, this maximun was low when compared to the populations from the central part of the Gulf (1.4 ± 0.4 m) and Bahía Concepción (1.97 m). The mean range of wet biomass (1.2 a 6.55kg m^-2 )  was within the values reportes for he Gulf of California, but high as compared to those reported from Laguna San ignacio in the Pacific coast of Baja California for Sargassum species. Unlike Sargassum species in the Gulf of California, the maximun length and probably high bioass occur in summer and early fall, associated with the high frecuency of upwelling. In this season, low temperature, and high nitrate and phosphate concentrations are common in the surface. The measured incident irradiance was not likely to influence directly the length and biomass of Sargassum sinicola.