Abstract

H. LOPEZ, Raúl  and  JAIMES, Juan C.. ASPECTS OF LARVAL DISTRIBUTION OF STOMATOPODA (CRUSTACEA) IN SURFACE WATERS OF THE COLOMBIAN PACIFIC. rev.udcaactual.divulg.cient. [online]. 2014, vol.17, n.1, pp.227-236. ISSN 0123-4226.

The distribution of stomatopod larvae in surface waters of the Colombian Pacific was evaluated around September of the years 2001-2004. By means of a conical 363 μm-pore net 98 surface mesozooplankton samples were obtained, of which all stomatopod larvae were extracted. Their abundances were estimated to evaluate possible relationships, with temperature, salinity, catch time, moon phases, and surface circulation. Thermal (26.9°C) and saline (31.8 UPS) averages indicated normal conditions in the study area, with higher thermal influence on larval abundance, whose average was higher in 2004 (197 Ind./1000m³) than in the other periods (> 27 Ind./1000m³). Although larvae were found even 556 km offshore, in all periods the highest values (70-2282 Ind./1000 m³) occurred in south-central neritic waters (3-5°N), maybe related to the settlement of adult populations in that area. A trend in larval increasing by night, moon waning and moon waxing was observed. It is very likely that the hydrological dynamics of the study area has also an influence on larval distribution.

Keywords : Stomatopoda; larval distribution; lunar phases; nictemeral; Colombian Pacific.

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