Abstract

DELGADO-BLAS, V. Hugo. Distribución espacial y temporal de poliquetos (Polychaeta) bénticos de la plataforma continental  de Tamaulipas, Golfo de México. Rev. biol. trop [online]. 2001, vol.49, n.1, pp.141-147. ISSN 0034-7744.

In three oceanographic cruises off southern Tamaulipas (May, July and November, 1992),  a total of 102 sediment samples were collected  by autonomous diving at depths of 2.5 to 20.5 m, with a cylindrical 4 liter acrylic tube. The samples were sieved (aperture size 0.5 and 1.0 mm). In total, 88 species of polychaete annelids were determined (33 families); 15 species are first records for Mexico and three for the Gulf of Mexico. The dominant species were Paraprionospio pinnata, Scoletoma verrilli, Ceratocephale oculata, Aricidea finitima, Apoprionospio pygmaea, Onuphis eremita oculata and Prionospio cristata; P. pinnata was  the most abundant (14.4% of the total). Highest abundance and diversity of species was in May (63 species and 622 organisms), followed by July (48 species and 401 organism); November was lowest (47species and 217 organisms). Most diversity and abundance were found in the sandy bottoms.

Keywords : Abundance; ecology; polychaetes; Tamaulipas; Gulf of Mexico.