Phytoplankton studies in the southern Gulf of Mexico: what we know and what we don't

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Abstract

The Gulf of Mexico is a large, semi-enclosed sea on the North American continent, known for its high biological diversity. Among the diverse organisms, phytoplankton, microscopic species that inhabit the euphotic zone, play a crucial role and provide numerous ecological and economic benefits. This work offers a critical review of the current state of research on phytoplankton in the Gulf of Mexico, with a primary focus on the southern portion, the Mexican waters. While research on phytoplankton communities in the northern Gulf of Mexico has explored several aspects, including taxonomy, genetics, modeling, and photosynthetic rates, among others, studies in the southern gulf have adopted different approaches. This variation stems from factors such as infrastructure and specific environmental issues faced in each portion. In the southern Gulf of Mexico, a significant proportion of studies concentrate on specific groups of phytoplankton, particularly diatoms and dinoflagellates. Conversely, other important groups, like silicoflagellates and coccolithophores, have been largely overlooked despite their ecological significance. Moreover, much of the research on phytoplankton in the southern gulf has focused on coastal areas and on morphological descriptions and taxonomic inventories. The influence of gulf oceanic dynamics on phytoplankton communities, however, remains largely unexplored. This review highlights gaps in the study of phytoplankton in the southern Gulf of Mexico. Given the context of global change, multidisciplinary research is crucial, making it imperative to evaluate the impact of large-scale hydrodynamic processes on phytoplankton communities.

Durán-Campos, E., & Coria-Monter, E. (2026). Phytoplankton studies in the southern Gulf of Mexico: what we know and what we don't. Latin American Journal of Aquatic Research, 54(3), 329-343. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.3856/vol54-issue3-fulltext-3574

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