Assessment of mercury and lead contamination using the bivalve Anadara tuberculosa (Arcidae) in an estuary of the Colombian Pacific.

Buenaventura Bay is considered the main estuary on the Pacific coast of Colombia, because of port and industrial activities. Mining and agriculture are major sources of contamination in the estuary. This study used the bivalve Anadara tuberculosa to evaluate the presence of mercury and lead in the Dagua River estuary (Colombia), one of the main tributaries coming into the bay. Five samplings for sediments and six for tissues of A. tuberculosa were carried out between 2016 and 2017. Additionally, a series of bioassays were conducted to determine its ability to bioaccumulate metals. A mean mercury concentration of 0.57 ± 0.74 mg*kg-1 and lead concentration of 0.87 ± 0.68 mg*kg-1 in sediment were found. Bioassays allowed us to conclude that at low mercury exposure concentrations (0.25 mg*kg-1), lesions are generated in animal tissue, mainly in sexual cells. The high concentrations of mercury found in organisms exceed the maximum permitted concentration established in Colombia. In addition, the contamination factors for mercury and lead were considered very high. This research aims at contributing to the use of Anadara tuberculosa, as prospective bioindicator for pollution biomonitoring in mangrove coastal ecosystems.

Factores de riesgo asociados a neumonía complicada en niños en el Hospital Nacional Docente Madre Niño San Bartolomé durante el periodo 2010 a 2012 / Risk factors associated with complicated pneumonia in children in the Teaching National Hospital Mother Child San Bartolome during the period 2010 to 2012

Objetivos: Determinar los factores de riesgo asociados a neumonía complicada en niños hospitalizados en el HONADOMANI San Bartolomé durante el período de Junio del 2010 a Junio del 2012. Material y métodos: Se realizó un estudio observacional, analítico, comparativo y retrospectivo en niños desde 1 mes hasta 17 años 11 meses de edad, en el cual se recopilaron y analizaron los datos de los pacientes hospitalizados por neumonía en el servicio de Medicina Pediátrica del HONADOMANT San Bartolomé durante el período comprendido entre Junio del 2010 a Junio del 2012. Se utilizó la prueba Chi cuadrado y prueba exacta de Fisher para variables cualitativas y el test de Student para variables cuantitativas. Resultados: Entre las características generales de los pacientes con diagnóstico de neumonía el promedio de edad en pacientes diagnosticados de neumonía complicada y sin complicación fue de 50,9 meses y 32,5 meses, respectivamente. La mayoría de pacientes con y sin neumonía complicada son de sexo masculino. El tiempo medio de la enfermedad fue de 3,22 días para los casos con neumonía complicada y 4,82±3,15 días para los casos con neumonía no complicada, no existiendo diferencias significativas. Entre las complicaciones más relevantes encontradas fueron: la plaquipeuritis, neumatoceles, bullas, neumotórax y glomerulonefritis post infecciosa. En relación a los antecedentes clínicos, se evidencio que la administración previa de antibióticos, AINES, estado nutricional, vacunación contra haemophilus, presencia de varicela en el último mes y presencia de otras enfermedades asociadas no están relacionados con la complicación de la neumonía. Además, no se estableció si la vacunación contra neumococo es un factor protector de neumonía complicada, puesto que no se registró ningún caso. La estancia media hospitalaria de los pacientes con y sin neumonía complicada fue 19,12±9,63 y 6,98±3,07 días respectivamente. Además, existe diferencia significativa entre los promedios de...

OBJECTIVE: To identify risk factors associated with complicated pneumonia in children hospitalized in HONADOMANI San Bartolome during the period June 2010 to June 2012. METHODOLOGY: Observational, descriptive, comparative, retrospective study in children from 1 month to 17 years 11 months old, in which data from patients hospitalized for pneumonia in the service of Pediatric Medicine HONADOMANI San Bartolome were compiled and analyzed, during the period from June 2010 to June 2012. RESULTS: Among the general characteristics of patients with diagnosis of pneumonia the average age in patients diagnosed with complicated and uncomplicated pneumonia was 50.9 months and 32.5 months, respectively. Most patients with and without complicated pneumonia are male sex. The mean duration of illness was 3.22 days for patients with complicated pneumonia and 4.82±3.15 days for patients with uncomplicated pneumonia, no significant differences was evident, The most relevant complications were: plaquipeuritis, pneumatoceles, bullae, pneumothorax and post infectious glomerulonephritis. Regarding the medical history was evident that showed that previous administration of antibiotics, NSAIDs, nutritional status, vaccination against haemophilus, presence of chickenpox in the last month and presence of associated diseases have no relationship with complication of pneumonia. Moreover, it was no established whether pneumococcal vaccination is a protective factor for complicated pneumonia, since no cases were recorded. The average hospital stay for patients with complicated and uncomplicated pneumonia was 19.12±9.63 and 6.98±3.07 days respectively. Furthermore, there in significant difference between the average hospital stay in both groups (p<0.001). The duration of fever in patients with complicated and uncomplicated pneumonia was 5.64 and 0.94.days, respectively, statistical relationship between the duration of fever and the complication of pneumonia, (p<0.001)and the average...

[The fisheries and growth of Ark Clams (Arcoida: Arcidae) Anadara tuberculosa in Málaga Bay, Colombian Pacific, 2005-2007]. / Pesquería y crecimiento de la piangua (Arcoida: Arcidae) Anadara tuberculosa en la Bahía de Málaga del Pacífico Colombiano, 2005-2007.

A. tuberculosa, is the most important bivalve species under exploitation in Colombia. Here, this species is found from Cabo Corrientes (Chocó) to the Ecuador border, in muddy substrates of mangrove forests. In order to determine the growth and the state of fisheries of A. tuberculosa, between December 2005 and April 2007, both, biological (in situ) and commercial studies were performed at Bahia Malaga (Colombian Pacific). The growth was estimated using the general equation of von Bertalanffy, with prior application of the methods of Bhattacharya and Powell-Wetherall. Mortality and exploitation rate were determined using the inverse model of von Bertalanffy. For the biological samplings, a total of 446 individuals of A. tuberculosa (0.64 +/- 0.13 individuals/m2) and 53 individuals (0.05 +/- 0.049 individuals/m2) of Anadara similis were collected. 79% of the catch was below 51mm. In the commercial samplings, 836 individuals of A. tuberculosa (size range: 31.1-92.2mm) were measured, but no A. similis samples were available for this. Recruitment of A. tuberculosa was higher during March, May, July and November. According to the data, A. tuberculosa might be reproducing during December, February, April and August. The data gathered with the biological samples were more reliable on explaining the growth of A. tuberculosa (K=0.332 per year, L(infinity)=88.256mm, t0=0.0556 years) than the one taken from market samples (K=0.256 per year, L(infinity)=89.77mm, t0=0733 years). The high exploitation rate (77%), the low density and the high mortality suggest that A. tuberculosa is in overexploitation state in Bahia Malaga and management strategies are urgently required.

Pesquería y crecimiento de la piangua (Arcoida: Arcidae) Anadara tuberculosa en la Bahía de Málaga del Pacífico colombiano, 2005-2007 / The fisheries and growth of Ark Clams (Arcoida: Arcidae) Anadara tuberculosa in Málaga Bay, Colombian Pacific, 2005-2007

The fisheries and growth of Ark Clams (Arcoida: Arcidae) Anadara tuberculosa in Málaga Bay, Colombian Pacific, 2005-2007. A. tuberculosa, is the most important bivalve species under exploitation in Colombia. Here, this species is found from Cabo Corrientes (Chocó) to the Ecuador border, in muddy substrates of mangrove forests. In order to determine the growth and the state of fisheries of A. tuberculosa, between December 2005 and April 2007, both, biological (in situ) and commercial studies were performed at Bahia Malaga (Colombian Pacific). The growth was estimated using the general equation of von Bertalanffy, with prior application of the methods of Bhattacharya and Powell-Wetherall. Mortality and exploitation rate were determined using the inverse model of von Bertalanffy. For the biological samplings, a total of 446 individuals of A. tuberculosa (0.64±0.13 individuals/m²) and 53 individuals (0.05±0.049 individuals/m²) of Anadara similis were collected. 79% of the catch was below 51mm. In the commercial samplings, 836 individuals of A. tuberculosa (size range: 31.1-92.2mm) were measured, but no A. similis samples were available for this. Recruitment of A. tuberculosa was higher during March, May, July and November. According to the data, A. tuberculosa might be reproducing during December, February, April and August. The data gathered with the biological samples were more reliable on explaining the growth of A. tuberculosa (K=0.332per year, L∞=88.256mm, t0=0.0556years) than the one taken from market samples (K =0.256per year, L∞=89.77mm, t0=0733years). The high exploitation rate (77%), the low density and the high mortality suggest that A. tuberculosa is in overexploitation state in Bahia Malaga and management strategies are urgently required.

Anadara tuberculosa es el bivalvo de mayor explotación en la costa pacífica de Colombia, se distribuye en Colombia desde Cabo Corrientes (Chocó) hasta los límites con el Ecuador, está asociada al bosque de manglar. Con el objetivo de determinar el estado de la pesca y su crecimiento, entre diciembre 2005 y abril 2007, se realizaron muestreos comerciales no sistemáticos y un muestreo biológico intensivo en Bahía Málaga. El crecimiento, se estimó utilizando la forma general de von Bertalanffy, con previa aplicación de los métodos de Bhattacharya & Powell-Wetherall. La mortalidad y tasa de explotación fueron determinadas usando el modelo inverso de von Bertalanffy. Se encontró una densidad de 0.64±0.13 individuos/m². En el muestreo comercial se midieron 836 individuos de Anadara tuberculosa con tallas entre 31.1mm y 92.2mm. Los datos biológicos fueron más confiables para explicar el crecimiento de Anadara tuberculosa (K=0.332 por año, L∞=88.256mm, t0=-0.0556 años) que los datos comerciales (K=0.256 por año, L∞ =89.77mm, t0=0.733 años). La tasa de explotación alta (77%), baja densidad y alta mortalidad, sugieren que Anadara tuberculosa se encuentra en un estado de sobre-explotación y requiere urgentes estrategias de manejo.

[Taxonomic composition and distribution of the echinoderms associations in the littoral ecosystems from the Colombian Pacific]. / Composición taxonómica y distribución de las asociaciones de equinodermos en los ecosistemas litorales del Pacifico Colombiano.

This paper examines published information and gray literature about taxonomy and ecology of echinoderm species of the Colombian Pacific Coast. Unpublished collection data of specimens kept in the Marine Sciences Museum of the University of Valle are also considered. Sixty-six species are found in coastal ecosystems and shallow bottoms of ten geographical, coastal and insular localities of the Pacific coast of Colombia. Main habitats having echinoderms are: rocky cliffs and shores, coral reefs, sand beaches, mud substrates, mangroves, and shallow bottoms of mud, sand, gravel and rocks. Regular Echinoidea and Asteroidea are the most diverse and abundant groups, mainly in subtidal rocky shallow bottoms and coral reefs. Ophiuroidea are abundant below rocky boulders. Irregular Echinoidea are abundant on sand beaches. The relatively high number of species shows that this geographical area presents a high diversity of echinoderms compared with other tropical shallow and littoral zones of the world. Rocky substrates and coral reefs are the ecosystems with the highest numbers of echinoderm species and individuals. A conservation status assessment is difficult because the lack of periodical sampling and few data about deep zones. In general, the species reported in the last 25 years, have not experimented important changes in their populations, although in some specific places, populations may decrease because human activities in coastal areas increase sedimentation rates change some rocky substrates to mud or sand.

[Distribution patterns and bioerosion of the sea urchin Centrostephanus coronatus (Diadematoida: Diadematidae), at the reef of Playa Blanca, Colombian Pacific]. / Patrones de distribución y tasas de bioerosión del erizo Centrostephanus coronatus (Diadematoida: Diadematidae), en el arrecife de Playa Blanca, Pacífico colombiano.

Regular sea-urchins are one of the main bioeroding organisms affecting coral reefs around the world. The abundance, distribution and bioerosion rate of the sea-urchin Centrostephanus coronatus, were determined in different reef zones of Playa Blanca fringing reef (Gorgona Island, Colombian pacific coast) during 1997 and 1998. The erosion rates were determined calcinating the gut content of the sea-urchins to eliminate all organic components and preserve the inorganic portion of calcium carbonate. C. coronatus showed the highest densities towards the central zones of the reef (plain-crest and front) (12.4 ind/m2; range 0-48 ind/m2). The highest mean bioerosion rate was 0.103 kgCaCO3/m2/yr in the reef plain-crest (0-0.69 kgCaCO3/m2/yr). In the other zones, (back reef and reef front) the mean bioerosion rates were 0.071 (range 0-0.39) and 0.052 (range 0-0.31) kgCaCO3/m2/yr respectively. According to the present data, it can be seen that the destruction of coralline skeletons, produced in this reef by sea-urchins is rather low, compared with the abrasion caused by these organisms in other places of the world. However, the combined action of C. coronatus and other bioeroding organisms (borers and grazers). along with some adverse environmental factors to corals, can be causing a negative balance between normal processes of reef accretion-destruction in Gorgona Island reefs.