INTROPICA

21-34

Authors: Adriana Pedroza-Ramos, Pedro Caraballo and Nelson Aranguren-Riaño

A fundamental and effective way to view the dynamic patterns and properties of a community is through the trophic network, understood as a map of the interrelationships between the structure of an ecological community and the processes that occur within the ecosystem. In this study, we describe an aquatic food web composed by aquatic invertebrates, detritus and periphyton associated with the plant Egeria densa. Samples were collected during the transitional and rainy season at four stations in the littoral zone of Tota Lake. Three samples (300 g each) of plant material at every point were randomly collected. Electrical conductivity, pH, dissolved oxygen and temperature were measured in situ. The eating habits were assigned by means of bibliographic information and in some cases observation. Finally, we developed a static type model that included 112866 individuals distributed among 26 taxon, which were classified according to their eating habits in: two top trophic species, 16 intermediate and two basal species. We found that this trophic network represents a connectance of 0.13 and density links of 2.95. The model also revealed that E. densa is a basal trophic species. Together, these results demonstrate that E. densa is an important generator of detritus and periphyton substrate, supporting other trophic levels in the community. Moreover, the presence of ten trophic species of primary consumers generates high ecological redundancy that at the same time guarantees the flow of resources toward higher trophic levels.

47-56

Authors: Néstor Ned Torres-Zambrano and David Rolando Torres-Zambrano

Composition and some functional implications in aquatic macroinvertebrates at the head creek Los Alisos placed in west of Firavitoba town -Boyacá department is presented. During August and September 2016, we taken two samples. Functional feeding groups and biological traits from bibliographic information were determinate, finding 7 feeding mechanisms and 19 biological traits. 2688 individuals were recollected of which are 3 phylum, 6 class, 11 orders, 21 families and 14 genera where the highest relative abundance are Hyalella genus (Amphipoda) (20.3 %). The trophic group detritivores-collectors or deposit consumers (C2) is the most common in the system (68.2 %), which suggests that dominate by fine particulate organic material (FPOM). The gill respiration is the most frequent because it occurs in 12 of the 22 taxonomic groups with 54.5 %. Tarsal hooks (GA) have the most organisms (54.5 %) that can be eventually used counter flow strength. Almost all organisms studied walk or crawl (AR, 68.2 %) using a variety of habitats as substrates. The life stories flexibility and mobility that show the characteristics of taxonomic groups found in the Los Alisos creek can influence how they get their food.

67-72

Authors: Limarie J. Reyes-Torres, Yazminne Meléndez-Torres and Alonso Ramírez

Nematodes are common symbionts of aquatic insects. Here, we assessed the presence of nematodes in mayfly nymphs (Ephemeroptera), evaluated their prevalence in the population, and determined factors associated with nematode presence. Mayflies were collected (n = 130) from three stream habitats (riffles, pools, and boulders) using a D net, in Prieta stream, El Verde Field Station, Puerto Rico. Mayflies were dissected and nematode presence was determined under a light microscope (4 x and 10 x). Nematode prevalence was 50 %. Nematodes were not identified beyond Phylum level, but we were able to eliminate various groups as infective agents (Nematoda: Mermithidae and Nematomorpha: Gordiida). They were mostly found in the abdomen, head or thorax of mayflies. There were differences in infection among taxa, Neohagenulus was the group with the highest proportion of infection. Mayfly body shape, feeding strategy, or activity potentially explain differences in infection among taxa. There were no differences in infection among habitats, but mayflies were less abundant in riffles; and there was no relation between mayfly body length and the number of nematodes present. To our knowledge, this is the first report of a nematode present in mayfly nymphs in Puerto Rico.

85-95

Authors: Marcela González-Córdoba, María del Carmen Zúñiga, Zuleyma Mosquera-Murillo and Sandra Sánchez-Vásquez

The Elmidae are water beetles, common and widely used as bioindicators of water quality for their sensitivity to organic pollution. To contribute to the knowledge of the family in the department of Chocó, a region which the taxonomic, ecological and distributional studies for this family are incipient, specimens deposited mainly in the Colección Limnológica del Chocó (Universidad Tecnológica del Chocó) and the Museo de Entomología de la Universidad del Valle, were analyzed. 958 specimens (adults and larvae), collected in 14 municipalities between 5 and 2063 meters, 40 streams of different orders, and two lentic ecosystems that drain mainly into the Atrato and San Juan rivers were analyzed. 17 genera (12 of the subfamily Elminae and five of the Larainae) and four species are recorded in this study. Austrolimnius, Hexacylloepus, Hexanchorus, Huleechius, Microcylloepus, Neocylloepus, Neoelmis, Onychelmis, Stenhelmoides, Pharceonus, Pseudodisersus and Xenelmis, are new records to Chocó and Cylloepus, Disersus, Heterelmis, Macrelmis and Phanocerus, Cylloepus, Macrelmis and Heterelmis, already known, increase their range of distribution in the region. Two species are new records for Colombia (Austrolimnius pusio y A. formosus) and two for the Chocó (Stenhelmoides rufulus and Pseudodisersus goudotti). Those records represent 70.8 % of the Elmidae generic richness known for Colombia. Most taxonomic records were found in the middle basin of the Atrato River between 25 and 150 meters. The Andean region and the upper basins of the Atrato and San Juan and the entire Baudó rivers exhibited the biggest lack information. Macrelmis, Cylloepus, Microcylloepus, Phanocerus, Neoelmis and Heterelmis, had the widest distribution, while Disersus, Hexacylloepus, Onychelmis and Pharceonus, were restricted to a single locality in low areas. Based on this work the Chocó, together with the Valle del Cauca, Antioquia and Meta, has the most generic richness of the family among the departments of Colombia.

105-110

Authors: Juan Carlos Valdelamar-Villegas

Feeding management in artificial ponds is one of the most important aspects in shrimp culture, as this may represent about 40 % of the operating costs, because of that several authors have focused their research on optimizing this aspect. This work was aimed to present the appropriate logistic regression model to predict the behavior of the dichotomics variable shrimp feeding state (over-fed = 1 and not over-fed = 0), from independent variables (qualitative dichotomic: intestine content benthos or emptied (CIBV = 1), intestine contents with food (CIA = 0) and the quantitative variable weekly growth (CS). Results show that the logistic model is the one that best explains the behavior of data, in additionvariable, weekly growth and intestine content of benthos or emptied, turn out to be the most significance. Results found in this work are discussed.

127-135

Authors: Luis Alberto De La Hoz-Barrientos and Farid Jesús Osorio-Ávila RESUMEN El

The phycoperiphyton plays a fundamental role in the dynamic of wetlands due to the fact that possess important attributes as bio-indicators and because of its sensitivity to environmental changes. The aim of this paper is to determine the composition and structure of phycoperiphyton assemblage related to macrophytes’ roots at a tropical swamp in the northwest of Colombian. Three samples were taken (June 2015, September 2015 and January 2016) in three separate locations in the eastern area of the swamp. In each location a sample of 5 cm2 was taken from the roots of three individuals for each dominant macrophyte. Simultaneously, in situ water chemical and physical variables were measured (pH, conductivity, oxygen, temperature, depth, light extinction, sedimentary solids and radiation). Reports of 81 morphospecies were found, being diatoms and chlorophytes the dominant algae. The macrophyte Eichornia crassipes were the richest substratum with the highest algae density. Cymbella, Gomphonema, Monoraphidium y Cosmarium were considered as successful colonizers, as they were found in the majority of the substratum evaluated. Due to its high nutrient recycling rate, periphytic algae plays a fundamental role in the dynamics of this swamp.

20-27

Authors: Silvia Carrera, Rubén Darío Valbuena-Villareal

The capaz is a representative of the family Pimelodidae fish, whose production comes from fishing in Magdalena River and the Embalse de Betania. Although a species of commercial interest, studies on its cultivation are scarce. In order to evaluate productive performance of capaz under different densities and different levels of protein in the diet, were used 450 fingerlings with an average weight of 37.6 ± 2.4 g and an initial size of 17.5 ± 1.7 cm preconditioned for consumption of commercial concentrate and during a productive period of six months in floating cages. The animals were divided into 2 densities (25 and 50 fish / m3) and fed 2 different protein levels Gross (PB) in the diet (25 and 32 %). Best results were obtained for planting density of 25 fish / m3 and concentrate fed 25 % protein, with the highest values in terms of weight gain (150 ± 4 g), specific growth rate (0.8 ± 0.002) and relative growth factor (7.39 ± 0.06). According to the results obtained it can be concluded that the density of 25 fish / m3 and food with a content of 25 % protein present the best conditions for the commercial cultivation of Pimelodus grosskopfii in floating cages.

37-51

Authors: Maria Rujano, Luzmary Oraá, Yorfer Rondón, Mireya Sánchez, Maritza Rondón, Yetsenia Sánchez, Masyelly Rojas, Nestor González, Dalmiro Cazorla, Elsa Nieves

Spatial analyzes have prompted the development of models to predict the spatial distribution of species. These techniques estimate the potential geographical distribution areas by representing the occurrence of the species from the association between the presence records and environmental variables of the site. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficiency of two models, MaxEnt and GARP, to predict the potential distribution of the main species of Lutzomyia in an endemic area of leishmaniasis in Venezuela. We use 190 georeferenced points of sandflies captured in the state of Merida, discriminated in 67 points for Lutzomyia youngi, 51 for Lutzomyia gomezi, 40 for Lutzomyia ovallesi and 32 for Lutzomyia walkeri. We take the climatic variables from the database Worldclim for area 23. The results show that both models had a good performance and their distribution ranges are consistent between themselves. Although GARP predicts a greater potential distribution for Lutzomyia youngi and Lutzomyia gomezi, MaxEnt generates more accurate predictions of probabilities of occurrence, determined by the bioclimatic variables that characterize the potential distribution of each species. It is considered better use MaxEnt because it presents a projection of the distribution according to contribution of bioclimatic variables as it provides important information for understanding the dynamics of distribution of Lutzomyia species and the risk of transmission of leishmaniasis in the state Merida–Venezuela, information relevant to the control entities.

60-73

Authors: Elsa Nieves, Maria Rujano, Héctor Ospino, Luzmary Oraá, Yorfer Rondón, Mireya Sánchez, Maritza Rondón, Yetsenia Sánchez, Masyelly Rojas, Nestor González, Dalmiro Cazorla

Leishmaniasis is a serious public health problem in different parts of the world. It is known that the effects of climate change has been increasing in recent years by habitat changing of sandflies the short and long term what can impact the transmission of leishmaniasis. In the current work evaluates the effect of climate change on the geographical distribution of sandflies transmitters of cutaneous leishmaniasis in Merida Venezuela. The analysis includes 4 species, Lutzomyia youngi, L. gomezi, L. ovallesi and L. walkeri using an atmosphere-ocean model HadCM3 under the premise of climate change in a pessimistic scenario A2 with projections for 2020, 2050 and 2080. Results predicted an increased in distribution of L. youngi, while for L. gomezi changes in its future potential distribution. L. ovallesi was the species most affected presented changes at future distribution and distribution of L. walkeri not affected by climate change. In addition, the model in a climate change scenario predicts an overlap of the main transmitter species in the municipalities of greater population density, suggesting an increased risk of transmission of leishmaniasis in Merida state in the coming years, the maps generated provide information relevant to understanding of the transmission of leishmaniasis and to authorities in control and prevention.

84-92

Authors: Cristhian Marrugo, Jairo Altamar, Luis Orlando Duarte

Elasmobranchs associated to artisanal fisheries in the Gulf of Salamanca has been studied poorly. In particular, the absence of assessments of the impact that fisheries activity occurs on the abundances of these resources, which is necessary to determine both the composition of the catches of fishing gear that catch elasmobranches as constructive and operational characteristics of these gears. By analyzing information from fishing landings and traditional knowledge, the present study evaluated artisanal gillnet fishery operating in the Gulf of Salamanca. The analysis showed an increase in fishing power, highlighting the recent addition of hooks to gillnets, whose practice began 20 years ago but massified since 2010, increasing efficiency of elasmobranchs catches. A historical decrease in mesh size (from 127.0 to 88.9 mm) was documented, which however did not produced changes in the trend of catch per unit of effort, but it was accompanied by a progressive expansion of the spatial distribution of fishing area. As perceived by the fishermen, incorporating hooks makes gillnets have a greater impact on shark catches. The results contribute to the identification of management measures aimed at conservation of elasmobranchs.

100-102

Authors: Luis Alfonso Vidal, Sigmer Quiroga, Rocío García-Urueña

From the observation of micropreparations of diatoms of epiphytic habits, deposited as reference material in the collection of macroalgae Germán Bula-Meyer, from the Centro de Colecciones Biológicas de Universidad del Magdalena, we obtained the first record of the benthic diatom Chrisanthemodiscus floriatus Mann 1925(Chrysanthemodiscaceae), to the Colombian Caribbean, in the Bay of Cinto in the Tayrona National Park , Magdalena-Colombia; its distribution known so far was in the northern hemisphere between 5 and 30°

23-32

Authors: Alix Barreto Hernández, Luz Adriana Velasco

In order to create a collection of marine benthic microalgae from the Colombian Caribbean, some strains were isolated and cultured under different temperature conditions. From periphyton samples of PVC plates placed in the rocky intertidal of Taganga, Santa Marta (Colombia), the type and number of isolated species, as well as the density and relative growth constant (K) of three of the isolated strains were assessed under three different temperatures (20, 25 and 28 °C). Constant conditions of culture medium Guillard F/2 (250 ml), artificial light (1500 lux) and initial values of salinity of 30‰ and pH of 7,0 were maintained. Five benthic microalgae strains were isolated at 20 °C (Cylindrotheca closterium, Komvophoron crissum, Tetraselmis sp. and 2 morphotypes de la familia Bacillariaceae); at 25 and 28 °C, none of the strains was obtained. In the diatom identified as Bacillariaceae diatom morphotype 1, the highest values of cell density (96,3 x 105 cells.ml -1) and K (1,03 div.day-1), were obtained at temperatures of 20 and 25 °C, while it was impossible to obtain their growth at 28 °C. Conversely, in the microalgae Cylindrotheca closterium and Tetraselmis sp. higher density values (2,6 and 7,7 x 105 cells ml-1, respectively ) were obtained in the 25 °C treatment, while the highest values of K occurred at 28 °C (0,64 and 0,60 div.d-1, respectively). This study allowed starting a collection of benthic marine microalgae, as well as to determine the most suitable temperatures for the microalgae isolation (20 °C) and cell production of Bacillariaceae morphotype 1, Cylindrotheca closterium and Tetraselmis sp. (25 °C).

43-59

Authors: Marcela de Avellar-Mascarello, Martin García Cartagena, Eddy Jara Torres

Ecuador (1989) and Sri Lanka (1990) began their Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM) Processes through the same International Cooperation funds, counseling and evaluation. Taking these facts into account, we developed a comparative analysis of their Integrated Coastal Zone Management processes. Using the GESAMP ICZM cycle conceptual framework, and through an extensive literature and document review on the subject, both processes were analyzed in order to determine their strengths and weaknesses and evaluate the GESAMP cycle conceptual framework as an analysis tool. What appeared to be similar processes, turned out to be very different. Ecuador showed a more participatory approach towards ICZM plan design and implementation from the beginning, while Sri Lanka only implemented this approach in its third ICZM generation plan. On the other hand, Sri Lanka had a more institutional program, thus generating from the outset a better and more organized institutional framework for ICZM than Ecuador. Both countries have achieved first-order results (institutional changes), second-order ones (behavioral changes), and possibly third-order ones too (socio-ecological indicator improvements). We conclude through this paper that participatory approaches, political will, effective evaluation processes and international aid are fundamental elements for successful ICZM processes. We also conclude that the conceptual framework proposed by GESAMP is a very important theoretical analysis tool through which ICZM processes can be analyzed. But this theoretical tool should be revised and tested through empirically based analysis on other international ICZM application study cases.

75-83

Authors: Jorge Luna-Fontalvo, Adriana Rodríguez-Forero, Jonathan Sarmiento-Rodríguez

The bacterial and fungal communities associated to the skin and digestive tract of Isostichopus badionotus were identified in order to evaluate the antagonistic interactions among them. For this purpose, surface smears were made to the epidermis and digestive tract, and this smears were grown in bacteria – and fungi – specific culture media. The identification of microorganisms was performed considering colonial morphology on culture media and microscopic features. Also, biochemical tests through BBL Crystal® micromethods for Gram negative and Gram positive bacteria were applied to the purified bacterial colonies. The fungi were identified through microscopic observations and using taxonomic keys. The bacterial strains’ inhibitory activity was analyzed by the agar diffusion disk method. Results showed a total of 42 isolated bacterial strains from which ten species were selected for taxonomic identification: Bacillus cereus, B. subtilis, Bacillus megaterium, Corynebacterium aquaticum, Proteus vulgaris, P. mirabilis, Enterobacter agglomerans, Serratia marcescens, Pseudomonas maltophilia, and Acinetobacter anitratus. Confrontation among these bacterial species did not show growth inhibitory activity. A total of 27 fungal strains were isolated, from which eight species were identified: Penicillium sp., Paecilomyces sp., Aspergillus sp., Aspergillus niger, A. flavus, Gliocladium sp., Cladosporium fulvum and C. herbarum. Fungal species showed inhibitory effects in dual confrontation tests. The identified species could correspond to the normal microbiota of the cucumber or to the microbiota associated to the water and/or the sediment, thus further studies are needed to confirm the obtained results.

92-101

Authors: Martha Mogollón, María Paulina Aycardi, Jorge Galeano, Javier Villalobos, Carolina Arango

In seven sectors of the old delta Sinú River and at different hydrological times some limnological characteristics were evaluated and there were identified cyanoprokariotes that were present in the system, taking into account morphological characteristics and organizational levels. The results were analyzed taking into account their environmental differences. A total of 49 morphospecies were identified, distributed in 4 orders, 8 families and 14 genera such as: Microcystis, Merimopedia, Dolichospermum, Aphanocapsa, Anabaenopsis, Lyngbya, Oscillatoria, Pseudanabaena, Stigonema, Gomphosphaeri and Planktolyngbya and this representation varies according to the salinity gradient, nitrates concentration and ammonium in the system.

111-117

Authors: Alina Villa, Diana Herazo, Ana Carolina Torregroza

Growth of Chaetoceros calcitrans was evaluated in a static system at 35 ppt salinity and different photoperiods 0:24, 6:18, 10:14 y 24:0 hours light:dark. Bioassays were performed in bottles of 200 ml in quadruplicate under controlled laboratory conditions, using the medium F/2. Light, temperature, pH and direct cell counts, were monitored every 48 hours. The photoperiod directly affected cell concentration and growth rate of C. calcitrans, being higher with 24 h/light, with values of 2'713,333 cel.ml-1 and 0.17 div.day-1, while the low cell concentration and growth rate were 0 cel.ml-1 and -0.03 div.dia-1, respectively with 0 h/light. A positive linear relationship (r= 0.567; F(1,10)=4.754; P>0.05) was observed between photoperiod and algal growth rate. The pH ranged between 6.7 and 7.5 with values tended to decrease in all treatments with the time. A negative correlation between pH and cell density of C. calcitrans (r2= -0.369) was detected. The results indicate that the growth of C. calcitrans is determined by photoperiod with optimal growth at continuous light.

129-136

Authors: Rubén Darío Rivera-Fernández, Oswaldo Valarezo-Beltron, Leonardo Vera-Macías, Jesús Enrique Chavarría-Párraga, Ángel Monserrate Guzmán-Cedeño

The witches’ broom disease in the main phytosanitary problem of cocoa and its management is a function of pod removal, however, their efficiency is subject to application time. The aim was to establish the right time in summer season. Pruning the plant was studied in two months in the summer season. The first in August (1-15) and the second in December (1-15). Clones 575 and 576 of 15 years cocoa with a planting density of 1111 pl.ha-1 was used as experimental material. The life cycle of Moniliophthora perniciosa was identified: inoculation, incubation and infection, taken the time in days for each stage. Furthermore, after the pruning infections, bearings and ears were counted, and thus the average number of infections per tree was obtained. Between 10 and 15 January sporulation of the fungus starts. The presence of symptoms was observed 45,6 ± 0,9 days after sporulation. The parasitic phase was 39,4 ± 9,22 days and total necrosis was 10,11 ± 3,4 days. After the phytosanitary pruning in August, new formations of M. perniciosa were able to form basidiocarps in subsequent winter season. In December the fungus were not capable of forming basidiocarps. The evidence shows the influence of plant pruning in December on the biological cycle of M. perniciosa and infestation levels of cocoa.

17 - 28

Authors: Esteban Álvarez, Doris Benitez, Cesar Velásquez, Alvaro Cogollo

The basic stem density (included wood and bark) information taken from 125 species of trees of the Colombian tropical dry forest of the Caribbean coast was shown. The distribution of the species frequencies was adjusted to a normal distribution, with a 75% of the values of density between 0, 4 and 0, 8 g/cm3. The most frequent type, with 17, 6% of the species and 17, 7% of the trees’ total, was estimated between 0, 5 and 0, 6 g/cm3. The average (approximated standard variation: 0,597 ± 0,18) of the wood’s density belongs to the range reported previously for similar forests in the Neotropical region. Additionally, a great variation between species was spotted, according to other reports. This data represents, for the region, its first published information and can be reference for a wide number of studies focus on the structure and dynamic of the Caribbean forests.

43 - 51

Authors: Marko Tosic, Silvia Narváez-Flórez, Juan Pablo Parra

Water quality analyses form an important part of a beach monitoring program in order to ensure the water’s recreational adequacy, aesthetic value, and ecosystem health. While the inclusion of multiple water quality parameters in the program’s design allows for comprehensive analyses, limiting the number of parameters included may be beneficial to balance costs and permit sufficient spatio-temporal sampling. In order to inform decision-making with regards to the selection of parameters, this study presents an analysis of the relationships between 16 water quality parameters, based on data collected from 61 beaches of the Caribbean and Pacific coasts of Colombia between 2001 and 2011. Correlation coefficients show moderate to very strong relationships among parameters related to water clarity (turbidity, transparency, total suspended solids) and among microbiological parameters, suggesting that the number of these parameters selected for monitoring could be reduced. In consideration of these results as well as other factors such as costs, technical complexity of analyses, and the identification of established reference values, it is recommended that a beach water quality monitoring program include as a minimum, the basic in situ arameters (temperature, salinity, pH and dissolved oxygen), one parameter related to water clarity (turbidity), and at least one microbiological parameter (Enterococos o Escherichia coli). Selection of the specific parameters to be included will depend largely on the technical capacity to measure each parameter, the reference values identified or comparison, available financial resources, as well as the specific priorities and local characteristics of each beach.

61 - 68

Authors: César Camilo Zambrano-Gari, Jorge Alberto Luna-Fontalvo

The microbial diversity in the environment and surface Dental Clinic’s of the University of Magdalena was determined from the search of infectious and pollutant microorganisms such as bacteria and fungi. Four monitorings, taking for each one 16 points of sampling: six trays and seven lamps of different dentals units and theroom’s sterilization, surgery and waiting room were carried out. Sedimentation techniques, static plates and torula, sweep were used for the microbiological environment and surfaces test (trays and lamps of the dentals units). The results shows that the environment of the waiting room had high abundance of bacteria and fungi. The genera Staphylococcus was recovered in higher roportion, with 48.790 CFU/m2/30 minutes and the total count of fungi was 13.150 CFU/m2/30 minutes, in minor scale Pseudomonas, Enterococcus, Moraxella and the total coliforms group. Regarding to the isolated fungi were dentified the genus Aspergillus, Curvularia, Geotrichum and Haplosporangium. The external conditions of the clinic´s environment influence directly on the concentration f microorganisms of the waiting room. The surface´s analysis of the trays and lamps of the dentals units corresponded in high proportion with the microorganisms mentioned previously

79 - 86

Authors: Evelyn Dávila, Josselyne Medina, Walter Reyes

The aim was to evaluate the growth and survival of postlarvae of M. inca, fed biological silage meal made from Argopecten purpuratus soft waste. We used 12 aquaria of 4 l each with brackish water (12 psu). Postlarvae of 12 mm and 54 mg were stocked in each aquarium (517 postlarvae m-2). Diets were prepared with 0, 25, 50 and 100 % of silage meal and postlarvae were fed at the rate of 10 % of the total biomass, twice on a day for 42 days. The growth of the postlarvae, both in weight and length, was not significantly affected (p>0,05) by the food treatment. However, survival with experimental diets was 85 % to 91 %, significantly higher than that with the control diet, which was 75 %. Therefore this silage biological is deemed a valid alternative in diets for this species.

99 - 103

Authors: Jonathan Sarmiento, Adriana Rodríguez

We describe the infestation of the Prochilodus magdalenae fingerlings by anchor worm (Lernaea cyprinacea). In a group of fish grown in the Aquaculture Laboratory of the University of Magdalena it was register a high mortality (50/50 number of fish / number of deaths) in small fish that had numerous white spots on the body, visible through skin. By histology of the lesions we identified copepod parasite that affects striated muscle, where it is surrounded by chronic inflammation. The high mortality is directly related to parasite infestation mainly concentrated on the body surface of the animals.

21-30

Authors: Giancarlo Javier Mazenett-Gutierrez, Julián Fernando Quintero-Galvis, Lyda Raquel Castro-García

In this study an analysis of the population structure and the phenotypic variability of Nerita tessellata in Santa Marta rocky’s shores was conducted. Coastline transects were sampled at the rocky bays of Bahia Concha, Punta Betín, Rodadero and Taganga, between September and November 2010. The population structure of N. tessellata (N=1544) was obtained using frequency charts of the sizes for the total of registered individuals per sample site and for the intertidal zones (midlittoral and supralittoral) confidence intervals (95%) were estimated. One-way ANOVA were performed to establish differences between sample site and intertidal fringes sizes. The phenotypic variability was evaluated through the homogeneity test of chi-square (X2). A distribution pattern based on the size of the specie N. tessellata was identified, with bigger sizes in the midlittoral fringe than in the supralittoral fringe, showing a distinctive size gradient in which individuals dimensions decrease as the vertical gradient of the rocky shore increases. Significant differences were also found among populations in the intertidal zones and the sample sites (ANOVA, P<0,05). Phenotypes differences among the sites for the populations of N. tessellata were found, showing polymorphism in terms of coloration attributes and bands.

37-46

Authors: Carlos J. Acevedo, Raúl Gómez Fernández

The topic of invasion ecology has been of interest to several researchers; currently, introduced species is considered a major threat to conservation of biodiversity, especially in island ecosystems. Various field surveys were conducted from April 2008 to May 2011 in the northern keys of Ciego de Avila with the aim of inventorying exotic plants species. In the area there are twenty seven alien species, belonging to twenty five genera and seventeen families, and these are better represented in the evergreen forest and “ruderal” vegetation. Most of the plants listed herein came from Asia and America, and their arrival and further settlement in the study area have been favored by increasing tourism development. Of these, seven plant species were categorized as invasive-transformer, eight as potentially invasive, one as naturalized plants no invasive and eleven as “subspontaneous.

59-68

Authors: Laura A. Noguera Castro, Camilo M. Botero Saltarén, Seweryn Zielinski

Beach Certification Schemes (BCSs) are tools recently implemented in Latin America. They are based on an evaluation of a given set of compliance aspects (requirements). The research consisted of the recollection, classification and organization of the available information on the Latin American BCSs, found through search engines, data bases, scientific articles, information networks and direct contact with organizations in charge of the certifications. The information was then used to calculate the proportions of inclusion of the compliance aspects in the five categories proposed by Botero (2008). The most recurrent for the Latin American context compliance aspects were calculated through the evaluation of the 3rd quartile, based on their statistical representativeness. In result, ninety one aspects were found in eight BCSs, most of them in the “environment” category. In the contrary, the “management” category was found to have the least number of aspects. In terms of the BCSs, the Colombian NTS-TS-001-2 and Argentinian IRAM 42100 were found to have the most aspects, while the Cost Rican Bandera Azul Ecológica the least. Finally, with the additional objective to emphasize the environmental importance of beaches, ten most relevant environmental compliance aspects were selected from the twenty eight found

81-90

Authors: Andrés Felipe Velásquez Mosquera, Alejandro Leal Castro

This paper presents a series of reflections about the current state of the school environmental education. In order to this, we deploy a critical perspective on the teaching of environmental education. We analyze the role of the Colombian authorities responsible for promoting the preservation and conservation of the same, and the role of the school, the institution responsible for formation future citizens. The document contains some legal and theoretical foundations of the importance of environmental education in the formation of an environmental culture. Traditionally environmental education in Colombian school has been characterized by the activism of the teacher and the lack of curriculum planning in line with the needs of the context and the guidelines established by some international organizations, including UNESCO and OEI. The authors of the paper believe that a solution to the current teaching of environmental education in secondary education is to promote a methodological strategy model based on the contributions of constructivism and the need to direct the teaching - learning as a research activity.

97-113

Authors: Esteban Álvarez, Irina Mendoza, Marco Pacheco, Zorayda Restrepo, Doris Benítez, Tomas Darío Gutiérrez, Olga Cecilia Ramírez, Juan Carlos Dib, Alvaro Roldan, Eduino Carbono, Esteban Zarza, Luis Alberto Velásquez, Marcela Serna, Cesar Velásquez, Yadis Álvarez, Oscar Jiménez, Marta Martínez, Alvaro Idarraga, Francisco Gómez

Dry forests represent almost half of the world’s tropical forests and they are the most threatened ecosystems by human activities. The growing a knowledge in preservation of the few remaining underlines the significance of establishing monitoring strategies for dry forests which would illustrate their role in the context of the tropical forests’ preservation. In 2001, we began to establish permanent monitoring parcels in the Caribe dry forest. Today, with the support of both, national and international institutions and local actors, a network of 11 widely spread across the region parcels has been established to cover the most important remnants of dry forest from the Caribbean coast, accounting all climatic gradients present. The results obtained by the network include: contents of carbon and forest diversity in relation with climatic variables, carbon fixation rates and population dynamics of important species for the restoration. However, the lack of institutional support at regional and national levels, with some important exceptions, puts at risk the continuity of this important project for the dry forest preservation in context of climatic change adaptation. Nowadays, other institutions have replied to this initiative and have made advances on their own, establishing new monitoring sites in the Caribbean forests. It is of high priority to work for the integration of these efforts in order to create a more ambitious strategy for monitoring the Caribbean forests. For this, interest and compromise from regional institutions and researchers are required

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Authors: Camilo Cortés-Useche, Jair Mendoza Aldana

We evaluated the macrobenthic community of sandy beaches. Were established four sampling sites: 1 and 2. Treasure Island and Rosario Island (Protected Beaches), 3 and 4. “Playita Cholon and Playa Blanca” (Recreational Beaches). Biological samples with PVC nucleators, in the laboratory, the organisms were identified to the major taxonomic level. In turn, physical data were obtained. The results showed that greater use beaches (Playa Blanca and Playita of Cholon) have higher abundances in contrast to the protected beaches (Treasure Island and Rosario Island), showing that the increased use of the beaches from the point of view of tourism and recreation is a strong physical pressure to the benthic macrofauna. We found a total of 1428 organisms belonging to 14 different taxa, grouped into 5 phyla, Nemertea, Annelida, Sipuncula, Nematoda and Crustacea. Nematodes were the dominant class (931 individuals) while polychaetes were also well represented (367 individuals)