Ichthyoplankton assemblages off northern Namibia

17 pages, 14 figures, 5 tablesThe continental shelf off Namibia is influenced by the Benguela Current with variable intensity year-round, and upwelling there has an important effect on the spawning habits of fish. During three cruises to northern Namibia, carried out in intensive and weak upwelling seasons, there were notable differences in the ichthyoplankton fauna. General features of the hydrography and plankton and an index of larval diversity calculated for all ichthyoplankton stations occupied during the three cruises are presented. Low larval diversity seemed to be related to centres of upwelling and, conversely, high larval diversity to hydrological stability. Principal components analysis was used to study the ichthyoplankton association patterns and their relation to external factors. In cruises carried out in upwelling periods (winter and spring) the main factors were identified as depth and latitude. A good relationship was found between species in the north of the survey area and warmer Angolan water during the autumn cruise. Hierarchical classification methods were also used, the points coefficient of correlation being used as a similarity index and the U PGM A as algorithm. Results obtained by this method of classification coincided with those obtained from principal components analysisPeer reviewe