Summary Growth parameters (K, L∞) and mortality rates (M, Z) were estimated for 20 fish populations (L∞ was estimated for six further species) of the Caribbean Sea. Samples were collected during 15 scientific cruises carried out between December 1995 and March 1998 in the Gulf of Salamanca, Colombia. Observed length frequency data were fitted to both standard and modified von Bertalanffy growth models to consider seasonal growth. For those species for which growth parameter sets were available in FishBase (http://www.fishbase.org) as of November 2003, comparisons in terms of the growth performance index (∅′) were conducted. Growth performances of most stocks of the Gulf of Salamanca do differ significantly from those of other stocks. Seasonal growth does not appear to be an adequate description of growth of the Gulf of Salamanca fish stocks, in spite of the presence of a seasonal upwelling phenomenon in the area.

No abstract

This work characterizes and compares the community of anemones at two coralline areas in the Tayrona National Natural Park, in the Colombian Caribbean, and also relates the species that were found with some important characteristics of the reef community as well as with factors that can condition its structure. The statistical tests performed allowed to differentiate two kinds of landscapes: the shallow mixed coral reef and the deep one. A total of 15 species of anemones were found, four belonging to the Order Corallimorpharia and 11 to the order Actiniaria, distributed over the coralline landscapes of the area. The tests used to determine the distribution of anemones inside the corridors measured, showed the formation of two similar groups of corridors to those obtained for the landscape that in its turn, represent two groups of anemones, those of shallow reefs and those of deep reefs. The tests used for each kind of anemone in respect to the characteristics of the reef environment suggest that each species has its own preferences regarding the habitat selection. However, relating the anemones with the landscape, anemones with the presence of certain coral species and anemones with the general reef landscape can create two basic categories.

Postlarvae and juvonilos of Farlantepenaous spp. and Xiphopenaeus kroyen were collected at Boca de la Barra (Ciénaga Grande de Santa Marta) by means of a channel net that orientates with tho tido. Sampling was carried out every two weeks for a year (February 1998-February 1999) so that oach sampling date corresponded to full and now moon alternatively. Farlantopenaous spp postlarvae tended to appear in tho dry soason and with significantly greater abundance during full moon (Mann-Whitney test. P<0.05). Juveniles showed a different pattern: there were significant differences between seasons (Mann-Whitney test. P<0.05) with higher concentrations in tho rainy soason. but not so between moon phasos (Mann-Whitnoy tost. P>0.05). In tho caso o! X. kroyen in no instance s»gnifcant differences were found between seasons or moon pitases (Mann-Whitney lest, P>0.05). However, some tendencies can be pointed out: postlarvae appeared in higher proportions during the new moon but no ma;or diHoronco was rocordod botwoon soasons whoroas juvonilos appeared in greater concentracions in the rainy season with almost no difference between moon phases. These results are disscused in torms of the scanty historical previous work. The relations Tl-CL and CL-Woight and somo morphomotnc and monstic foaturos aro roportod