Effect of El Niño 1997-98 on the snail Astraea undosa (Wood) population along the Baja California western coast

María Georgina Gluyas Millán, Casimiro Quiñonez Velazquez, Jesús Talavera Maya

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Abstract

The effect of the 1997-98 El Niño on the snail Astraea undosa population along the Baja California western coast on biomass changes in June 1997 and July 1998 was evaluated. In 1998, dead snails >40 mm basal diameter were collected and their basal diameter measured. Individual weight and density (snails/10 m2) decreased significantly in 1998 from those registered in 1997, with an average 47% decrease in biomass. We discuss the possible causes of those changes as a function of the disappearance of the Macrocystis pyrifera forest and of an extended period of positive anomalies of the sea surface temperature that were present previous to July 1998.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)831-834
Number of pages4
JournalJournal of Shellfish Research
Volume21
Issue number2
StatePublished - Dec 2002
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Astraea undosa
  • Baja California
  • Biomass
  • El Niño 1997-98
  • Snail

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