Pterópodos tecosomados y heterópodos (Gasterópodos) como bioindicadores del evento

Abstract

Acogiendo la recomendación del "Estudio Regional del fenómeno El Niño" (ERFEN), de la Comisión Permanente del Pacífico Sur (CPPS), de buscar nuevos organismos que puedan ser utilizados como bioindicadores tempranos de el fenómeno "EN", desde Junio/90 se viene estudiando quincenal y mensualmente a los Pterópodos tecosomados y Heterópodos en la estación fija "La Libertad", que está localizado 10 millas costa afuera en la Latitud 02°06'00" y Longitud 81°03'43''.

The present is a research work carried out from Jun/90 until December/95 on Pteropods and Heteropods at "La Libertad" station, located 10 miles offshore the ecuadorian coast. Fourteen planktonic gastropd species were identified, nine of which are Pteropods and 5 Heteropds. From the analysis of the Pteropods and heteropods as bioindicators of "El Niño" (EN) Event, the characteristics and appreciations of "no-Niño", "pre-Niño", "El Niño" (EN) 1992 and "post-Niño" period are presented. The relationship between species, surface temperature, salinity and subsurface temperatures from 0 to 100 meter depth is defined. Observations on taxonomic characteristics ecology and behavior of each species in each "EN" period are described and those which may be considered as bioindicator of "EN". Also there is a discussion about the most important associations of Pteropods and Hetropods and some apprecaitons of the observations during the last five and half years of research work.