Polychaete community structure of the northwestern coast of Mexico: patterns of abundance and distribution

In August 1998, 72 benthic stations were sampled off the northwestern coast of Mexico. A baseline survey of the polychaete macrofauna was carried out for the southernmost portion of the Southern California Bight (SCB) region. Spatial patterns of polychaete assemblages were characterized to determine evidence of environmental impact from point sources of wastewater discharge near the study area, and to define a standard against which to detect future change. A total of 4231 polychaetous annelids representing 38 families and 210 species were identified, which constituted 53% of the total macrofauna. Families with highest species richness were Spionidae (18 spp.), Onuphidae (15 spp.), and Terebellidae (14 spp.). Species with greatest abundances were Spiophanes duplex (490 ind.), Spiophanes fimbriata (330 ind.), Lanassa sp. D (209 ind.), Pectinaria californiensis (138 ind.), and Euclymeninae sp. A (124 ind.). Based on polychaete assemblages, communities for the southernmost SCB were found to be composed primarily of non-opportunistic species, and no numerically dominant species were found. High values of polychaete diversity (H) indicated the majority of the area of study could be considered an undisturbed environment. Principal Components Analysis (PCA) applied to environmental and faunistic parameters indicated depth, organic carbon, and sediment grain size as the main influences determining the polychaete faunal communities.