Influences of El Niño on assemblages of mesopelagic fish larvae along the Pacific coast of Baja California Sur

Abstract

Abstract Seasonal assemblages of mesopelagic fish larvae and changes related with environmental factors (plankton biomass, sea surface temperature anomaly, upwelling, and the multivariate El Niño index) were investigated. From 1982 to 1987, 16 oceanographic cruises were carried out along the Pacific coast of Baja California Sur, Mexico. Larvae of 42 mesopelagic fish taxa were collected. Larval abundance was highly variable during the studied period, but summer months coincided with higher abundance (>200 larvae under 10 m 2 ). Larval assemblages were dominated by three of the most common species of tropical ( Vinciguerria lucetia , Diogenichthys laternatus ) and subtropical affinity ( Triphoturus mexicanus ). A group of species of tropical affinity ( Diplophos proximus , Diaphus pacificus , Benthosema panamense ) was useful for distinguishing the 1982–84 El Niño event, and an assemblage of larvae of temperate affinity ( Symbolophorus californiensis , Melamphaes lugubris , Bathylagus ochotensis , Leuroglossus stilbius , Protomyctophum crockeri ) characterized ‘normal’ years (mid‐1984 to mid‐1987).