No abstract

The larvae composition of crustacean decapod families at the northeastern region of the Colombian Caribbean was studied based on plankton oblique tows with a bongo net system during July-August, November-December 1997 and March-April 1998. Zoeas were separated and identied to the taxonomic family level from the samples collected. 30 families were described, based on external characteristics as body shape, eyes, antennae, antenule, shell, abdomen, telson, number of thorax appendages and abdomen segments, as well as presence, absence and spines counting. Taxonomic keys were developed to facilitate the identication of the larval stages of Decapoda from the study area.

This study examines the settlement patterns of the Caribbean lobsterPanulirus argus(Latreille, 1804) on the continental shelf of Caribbean Colombia during a period of 16 months (December 2002-March 2004). Field studies of the puerulus settlement were performed using 20 submerged collectors between 10 and 11 m depth, at three locations (Taganga Bay, Pelícano Island and Pozos Colorados Bay) and five stations. Our goal was to collect information comparable among stations, to analyse the spatio-temporal variability of puerulus settlement, and to verify possible associations with the discharge of the Orinoco River and the regional oceanic circulation. The peak time of larval recruitment occurred in March and April, in July the influx of settlement was minimal, and a second peak occurred between August and November. We propose a hypothesis that the Panama-Colombia gyre (quasi-permanent) located in the southern Colombia Basin, could provide the mechanism that ensures self-recruitment of the stock in this region.

La distribución larval de estomatópodos en aguas superficiales del Pacífico colombiano, se evaluó alrededor de septiembre, entre el 2001 y 2004. Mediante una red cónica con poro de 363μm, se obtuvieron 98 muestras superficiales de mesozooplancton, de las cuales, se extrajeron todas las larvas de estomatópodos. Se estimaron las abundancias para evaluar las posibles relaciones con la temperatura, la salinidad, la hora de captura, las fases lunares y la circulación superficial. Los promedios térmicos (26,9°C) y salinos (31,8 UPS) indicaron condiciones normales en el área de estudio, con mayor influencia de la temperatura sobre la abundancia larval, cuyo promedio fue más alto en septiembre de 2004 (197 Ind./1000m3), que en los otros periodos (>27 Ind./1000m3). Aunque se hallaron larvas, incluso hasta 556 km de la costa, en todos los periodos los mayores valores (70-2282 Ind./1000m3), se registraron en aguas neríticas del centro-sur (3-5°N), quizá en relación con el asentamiento de poblaciones adultas, en esa zona. Se observó una tendencia al aumento larvario en la noche, cuarto menguante y cuarto creciente. Es muy probable que en la distribución larval influya también la dinámica hidrológica del área de estudio.