ABSTRACT
Variation in the structure of the periphytic community that colonizes artificial substrata in the Medellín river (Colombia). Weekly samples were taken from microscope glass slides attached to acrylic substrata were placed at subsuperficial level in two sampling stations in the higher section of the Medellín river, Colombia, from January through March 1998. Diversity and evenness varied with time (Friedman p<0.05). There were spatial differences in biomass, productivity, diversity and evenness (Friedman p<0.05). Total biomass and productivity increased with the time of colonization at station 1. Station 2, with four times more water flow, had lower diversity and mean evenness values. During the colonization process the were 76 species (22 families). The Chrysophyta, mainly diatoms, were the most abundant (56 % of the total), followed by Clorophyta (29 %), Cyanophyta (11 %) and Cryptophyta (4 %). Rev. Biol. Trop. 55 (2): 585-593. Epub 2007 June, 29.
Se colocaron muestreadores de material acrílico con portaobjetos a nivel subsuperficial en dos estaciones de recolección en la parte alta del río Medellín. De enero a marzo de 1998 se tomaron muestras semanales y se encontraron diferencias temporales significativas en la diversidad y en la equidad (Friedman p<0.05). A nivel espacial hubo diferencias en la biomasa, la productividad, la diversidad y la equidad (Friedman p<0.05)). La biomasa total y la productividad aumentaron con el tiempo de colonización en la estación 1. La estación 2, que tiene un caudal cuatro veces mayor, tuvo menor diversidad y equidad media. Durante el proceso de colonización se encontraron 76 especies pertenecientes a 22 familias, siendo la división de las crisofitas, principalmente diatomeas, la más abundante (56 % del total), seguida por clorofíceas (29 %), cianofíceas (11 %) y criptofíceas (l 4 %).
Subject(s)
Animals , Biodiversity , Biomass , Eukaryota/classification , Colombia , Population Density , Population Dynamics , RiversABSTRACT
From April to December 1996 a limnological study was carried out in 17 streams near Medellín, in order to stablish their water quality. The area is located in Piedras Blancas Park (6§8`20``N, 75§30`20``W)SE of Medellín at 2400m altitude. Three sampling periods, encompasing wet and dry season were selected. April-May, August-September and October-December. For qualitative collection methods hand screen and D-net were used. Each station was intensively sampled to collect most macroinvertebrates in all types of habitat. The area sampled in each station was 6m2. Physicochemical variables ingeneral showed small fluctuations along the study; only conductivity and total dissolved solids exhibited significant changes, all related with high precipitation in the west season. Macroinvertebrate community consisted of 113 genera, 63 families and seven phyla. Trichoptera was the most abundant group. The results indicate that the freshwater ecosystems in the study area present a high water quality corresponding to a oligo-metrophic system. Key words: Aquatic ecology, tropical limnology, tropical macroinvertebrates