Versão em pdf - Laboratório de Ecologia do Ictioplâncton - Furg

ABSTRACT
The structure of ichthyoplankton assemblages and their
relation to mesoscale physical processes were studied along
the Southeast Continental Shelf of South America (SCSSA)
between Mar del Plata (Argentina, 38 o S) and Itajaí (Brazil,
27 o S). Larvae were collected during winter 2003 and summer
2004 with vertical hauls between 50 and 200m isobaths. In
situ hydrographic data and satellite remote sensing images
were used to describe the distribution pattern, species
composition and abundance of fish larvae and their relation to
oceanographic regimes. Clustering techniques identified three
well-defined assemblages in both periods: continental shelf,
transitional and oceanic. The continental shelf assemblage
was found in cooler and less saline waters with high
chlorophyll concentrations. The oceanic assemblage was
associated with warm and saline waters with low
concentrations of chlorophyll. The transitional assemblage,
with intermediate conditions, separated the shelf from the
oceanic assemblage. It showed twice the number of species
compared to the other groups and was associated with frontal
regions.
Key-words: Ichthyoplankton, mesoscale processes, remote sensing data, south-
western Atlantic
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