Ecosystem Reference
Ecosystem Gulf of California
Type Sea/Bay/Gulf
Salinity saltwater
Other Names
Location
LME SAU No 4. North America, Gulf between Mexico and Baja California. LME2002, LME2006, SAU 2008. 32° N 24° N - 114° W 106° W
Location Map Gulf_of_California.png
Size Ref
River Length Area 222332 km2 Drainage Area
Depth
Average Depth Max Depth Ref
Temperature
Surface 20.5 °C Map59.gif
100 Meters Depth 13.2 °C Map60.gif
Description A semi-enclosed LME, the Gulf of California is bordered by Baja California and mainland Mexico, opening to the Pacific at its southern end. It is long and narrow, about 1200 km long and 175 km wide, with an approximate area of 210 km2, making it one of the smaller LMEs. Because the Middle America Trench reaches into the Gulf of California, much of this LME has a depth greater than 200 m. The ecosystem serves as a nursery ground for the gray whale as well as supporting stocks of anchovies and small clupeids. (http://www.na.nmfs.gov/lme/text/lme4.htm)
Comments on faunal list Area from SAU (November 2015).
URL 1 http://www.seaaroundus.org/lme/4.aspx
URL 2
Ecosystem Checklist Link
Total
SeaLifeBase Literature
Species Families Species Families Reference
446 226
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