Physico-chemical characterization of the benthic system in the south area of the San Jorge Gulf, Argentina

Surficial sediments and bottom water physicochemical characteristics of the San Jorge Gulf are presented corresponding to the main concentration area of the shrimp Pleoticus muelleri (Bate, 1888) which sustents the fishery of the patagonic littoral. Data were obtained during the research cruise (OB-05/03) on board the RV Capitan Oca Balda of the INIDEP, during June 2003. Environmental variables such as temperature, salinity, density, oxygen and bottom water chlorophyll a content and granulometric fractions, total organic matter, total organic carbon, total nitrogen, total phosphorous, chlorophyll a and phaeopigments in sediment concentration as well as depth were analysed. The origin and nutritional value of the deposited organic matter were also assessed. Cluster analysis was applied for the numeric treatment of the data. Spatial distribution of the variables defined two sectors in the south area of the San Jorge Gulf, corresponding to the Depositional Environment (low hydrographic conditions, fine granulometric fractions and high concentration of organic material in sediments) and the Transitional Environment (intermediate hydrodynamic conditions, medium granulometric fractions and moderate organic material concentration in sediments), both previously described by Fernandez el al. (2003,2005,2006). This research pretends a physico-chemical characterization of the environment where the highest concentrations of the fishery resource are located. This will allow a posterior analysis related to the distribution patterns and abundance of the shrimp in the south sector of the San Jorge Gulf, due to the relationship noticed among the abundance index of the species and some of the oceanographic and sediment variables.