Zooplankton biovolumes. Distribution and abundance of euphausiids and ichthyoplankton off the Peruvian coast. Autumn 2016

Abstract

 During the Hake and other Demersal Stock Assessment Cruise 1605-06, carried out between May 24 and June 17, 2016, a total of 71 zooplankton samples were collected with a 300 μm Hensen net, in vertical trawls up to a depth of 50 meters. Zooplankton biovolumes varied between 0.2 and 55.0 mL/sample, the most frequent were those of lower value between 0.1 - 5.0 mL/sample (39%), the least frequent were greater than 20.0 mL/sample, located mainly between Mórrope and Chicama. A total of 13 species of euphausiids with higher densities in early stages have been determined, such as calyptopis (77%) and furcilias (16%) of the total abundance of this group. In ichthyoplankton, 53 families were determined, the most frequent being Engraulidae (51%) and Phosichthyidae (35%). The anchoveta was the most abundant species represented by eggs (3 and 5,208 eggs/m²) and larvae (3 and 309 larvae/m²), which were recorded between Puerto Pizarro and Punta Falsa (eggs), as well as between Talara and Chicama (larvae).