Rev. biol. mar. oceanogr. 48(2): 393-399

Research Note

Proliferation of Pseudo-nitzschia brasiliana and P. cf. pseudodelicatissima (Bacillariophyceae) in the Estero Santa Cruz, northern Gulf of California, Mexico

Ismael Gárate-Lizárraga¹, Carlos Antonio Poot-Delgado^2,3, Erick Ramsés Ramírez-Castillo⁴ & Manuel Humberto Páez-Hernández⁵

¹Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Centro Interdisciplinario de Ciencias Marinas, Departamento de Plancton y Ecología Marina, Avenida Instituto Politécnico Nacional s/n, Col. Playa Palo de Santa Rita, La Paz, Baja California Sur 23096, México

²Centro de Estudios del Mar, Departamento de Recursos Acuáticos, Km. 1 Carretera Campeche-Hampolol s/n, Col. Palmas, Campeche, Campeche 24027, México

³Laboratorio de Botánica Marina y Planctología, Instituto de Ciencias Marinas y Pesquerías, Universidad Veracruzana, Calle Hidalgo Nº 617, Col. Rio Jamapa, Boca del Rio. Veracruz, C.P. 94290, México

⁴Comité de Sanidad Acuícola del Estado de Sonora, Ébanos Nº 58, Col. Fuentes del Mezquital, Hermosillo, Sonora, México

⁵Dirección General de Protección contra Riesgos Sanitarios del Estado de Sonora, Paseo del Canal y Comonfort, Edificio Sonora, Sonora, México

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A moderate bloom of Pseudo-nitzschia species occurred during collection of phytoplankton in Estero Santa Cruz, the State of Sonora, Mexico, in August 2012. The abundance of Pseudo-nitzschia in 2 samples was 84x103 and 160x106 cells L^–1. Results show the presence of 2 species, P. brasiliana and P. cf. pseudodelicatissima, which were responsible for a microalgae bloom. This is the first proliferation of P. brasiliana in the Gulf of California. P. cf. pseudodelicatissima was present in higher densities. A short morphological description is provided, including data from scanning electronic microscopy.

Key words:  Diatom blooms, Pseudo-nitzschia brasiliana, P. cf. pseudodelicatissima, oyster farming, Gulf of California, Mexico