Diatomeas epifitas consumidas por adultos de abulón (Haliotis spp.) en Baja California Sur, México

ResumenCon el objetivo de elaborar la lista florística de diatomeas que son consumidas por abulones adultos, se revisaron contenidos intestinales de especímenes silvestres de abulón azul (Haliotis fulgens) y amarillo (H. corrugata), con la hipótesis de que se encontrarían principalmente formas epifitas, sobre todo de Macrocystis pyrifera. Para ello, se hicieron 7 muestreos entre marzo y septiembre de 2012 en La Bocana, BCS, México. En cada muestreo se recolectaron de 4 a 10 especímenes adultos de H. fulgens y H. corrugata. Los organismos se disecaron para extraer sus contenidos intestinales, los cuales se oxidaron con ácido nítrico y alcohol. Las diatomeas montadas con Pleurax se observaron bajo un microscopio con contraste de fases y óptica planapocromática. Así, se elaboró la primera lista florística de diatomeas consumidas por abulones adultos que incluyó 151 taxa (especies y variedades) y 2 nuevos registros para la región: Navicula johanrossi y Navicula cluthensis. Entre los 61 géneros identificados, los mejor representados fueron: Cocconeis (17 especies), Navicula (15), Amphora (15) y Nitzschia (11); la mayoría fueron formas epifitas, aunque no particularmente de M. pyrifera. La alta riqueza de especies observada confirmó que los adultos de Haliotis spp. no son selectivos al consumir diatomeas.

In order to construct the floristic list of diatoms that are grazed by adult abalone, we examined gut contents of wild specimens of green (Haliotis fulgens) and pink abalone (H. corrugata). The hypothesis that mostly epiphytic forms of diatoms, particularly those from Macrocystis pyrifera would be found in the gut contents was tested. To do that, 7 samplings were carried out between March and September (2012) at La Bocana, BCS, México. Four to ten specimens of H. fulgens and H. corrugata ranging from 96 to 173 mm were collected every month approximately. These were dissected and their gut contents extracted, part of which were oxidized in a mixture of commercial alcohol and nitric acid. The cleaned diatoms were mounted on permanent slides using Pleurax mounting media. Diatoms were observed and photographed under a compound microscope with phase contrast and planapochromatic optics. The first floristic list of diatoms that are grazed by adult abalone was thus constructed. This yielded 151 taxa including species and varieties, and 2 new records for the region: Navicula johanrossi and Navicula cluthensis. The best represented among the 61 identified genera were: Cocconeis with 17 especies, Navicula (15), Amphora (15) and Nitzschia (11). These were mostly epiphytic forms, albeit not particularly of M. pyrifera. The high species richness observed confirms that adult Haliotis spp. are not selective when grazing on diatoms.