Distribución y abundancia de filosomas de Panulirus (Decapoda: Palinuridae) en el sureste del golfo de California, México

Abstract

The spatial and temporal distribution of the stage 1 phyllosoma larvae of the lobsters Panulirus inflatus and P. gracilis and their relationships to water temperatures and salinities were analyzed from February to December 1989 in the southeastern Gulf of California, Mexico. Three stations were located wíthin ¡he bay of Mazatlan and one was located at the mouth of the Urias system (station one). Two-hundred and eight samples ( 1 04 at surface and 104 at bottom) were obtained from 26 horizontal plankton tows. Water temperatures and salinities were measured concurrentIy. Phyllosoma larvae were most abundant in station one, with total mean densities of I 206 larvae/ I 000 m3 (surface) and 1 196 larvae/l 000 m3 (bottom). Water temperatures ranged from 17.9°C, in February, to 30. 2°C, in August, and water salinities ranged from 3 4. 1 %0' in August, to 3 5.0 °/00, in May. The abundance of phyllosoma larvae was not related to changes in water temperature or salinity, however it was significantly related with the reproductive behavior of adults inhabiting lhe area. Spatial distribution of phyllosoma strongly depends upon current patterns and tidal cycles.