Short-term variability of fish larvae assemblages in Malpelo island, an isolated oceanic island in the Eastern Tropical Pacific

A study of Malpelo Island, an isolated oceanic site in the Eastern Tropical Pacific, reveals distinct larval fish assemblages shaped by local hydrographic conditions. The research identified 26 taxonomic units, with insular waters dominated by epipelagic and reef-associated species like Sardinops sagax, while offshore areas were characterized by mesopelagic taxa such as Diogenichthys laternatus. Despite no significant difference in larval abundance between locations, low assemblage similarity (45%) and high species turnover (79%) underscored the island's ecological distinctiveness. Larvae exhibited diel vertical migration, ascending to shallower layers at night, influenced by thermocline and halocline depth. The findings provide critical baseline data for conservation efforts in this UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Giraldo, A., Muriel-Hoyos, F., Córdoba-Rojas, D. F., & Gallego-Zerrato, J. J. (2026). Variabilidad en corta escala de los ensamblajes de ictioplancton en isla Malpelo, una isla oceánica aislada en el Pacífico Oriental Tropical. Revista de Biología Tropical, 74(1), e2026184. https://doi.org/10.15517/5h3qkd21