Spatial and temporal changes in the cetacean community structure at Bahía de La paz, BCS, México (1988-1991)

Abstract

At two different ecological zones (Canal de San Lorenzo and transitional), located at Bahía de La Paz, we analysed changes in the cetacean community (Shannon and Simpson indexes) in relation to annual and seasonal changes in sea surface temperature, water transparency and inferred and reported food availability. Six odontocete and six mysticete species were recorded during the study period. Due to their high relative abundance and persistent presence, the long beak common (Delphinus capensis) and bottlenose (Tursiops truncatus) dolphins, as well as Bryde’s whales (Balaenoptera edeni) were, respectively, the most important odontocete and mysticete community members. The evidente indicates that sea surface temperature and water transparency, besides food availability, show predictable seasonal and annual changes related to the influence of tropical water masses and to large scale oceanographic phenomena, such as El Niño Southern Oscillation and La Niña. Nevertheless, cetacean diversity did not show consequent changes. The cetacean community was more diverse and stable at the transition between seasonal and annual oceanographic conditions. Cetacean diversity changed significantly at smaller time and space scales, defined by the interaction of particular annual, seasonal and local conditions. This and changes in species richness, mediated by the temporal residence of migrating species of temperate waters or more sporadic tropical visitors, indicate the existence of fast and important changes in species abundance and substitution rates, associated with the behavioural ecology of the species and fluctuations in the ecosystem’s metabolism.