Composición y fluctuación estacional de especies formadoras de florecimientos macroalgales en la laguna costera El Carmen, Cárdenas, Tabasco, golfo de México

The presence, distribution, and abundance of macroalgae are related to the fluctuations of physical and chemical parameters; the increase in macroalgae biomass is associated with nutrient enrichment of the coastal zones derived from anthropogenic activities. Macroalgae blooms are usually comprised of one or more ephemeral macroalgae species with rapid growth. In the present study, changes in the composition and biomass of macroalgae blooms of a coastal lagoon are described. Physicochemical variables were measured in 5 sites of El Carmen lagoon, Cárdenas, Tabasco in an annual cycle during 3 seasons, rainy (October, 2015), north winds (February, 2016), and dry (July, 2016). Macroalgae biomass was also measured using a transect-quadrat method. Differences in variables and biomass between seasons and sites were estimated with an ANOVA. In addition, a Principal Component Analysis (PCA) was conducted in order to observe the relations between environmental variables and biomass. A total of 7 species were found to be important. The highest total biomass corresponded to G. blodgetti (4225.1 g), followed by A. spicifera (794.6 g). Macroalgae blooms were found only in sites 1 and 5, and their species composition and biomass varied depending on site and season. The PCA showed that macroalgae biomass was related to physicochemical variables depending on the species. In the region, the anthropogenic activities surrounding the lagoons heavily affect them; therefore, this type of study is important to monitor the lagoon. This is the first study of macroalgae blooms in the region.