The remarkable fish diversity in the Caribbean rivers of north-western South America evolved under the influences of the dramatic environmental changes of neogene northern South America, including the Quechua Orogeny and Pleistocene climate oscillations. Although this region is not the richest in South America, endemism is very high. Fish assemblage structure is unique to each of the four aquatic systems identified (rivers, streams, floodplain lakes and reservoirs) and community dynamics are highly synchronized with the mono-modal or bi-modal flooding pulse of the rainy seasons. The highly seasonal multispecies fishery is based on migratory species. Freshwater fish conservation is a challenge for Colombian environmental institutions because the Caribbean trans-Andean basins are the focus of the economic development of Colombian society, so management measures must be directed to protect aquatic habitat and their connectivity. These two management strategies are the only way for helping fish species conservation and sustainable fisheries.

This paper provides a comprehensive assessment of the economic values for ecosystem services (ESs) in Colombia. Were analyzed 154 studies that estimated economic values for 21 ESs in 18 general ecosystems. In total, 502 values were coded and classified according to the Common International Classification of Ecosystem Services -CICES. Despite being a technique that is not based on primary economic valuation information, Benefits transfer was the most common method used to estimate the value of ESs in Colombia, followed by market prices and contingent valuation. Opportunities for recreation and tourism, climate regulation, habitat conservation, and water have been the most valued ESs. Many important ESs remain unnoticed and are not adequately accounted (e.g. pollination). Additionally, 53% of the information available on the economic values of ESs is concentrated in only 5 of the 32 Colombian departments. Finally, this review highlights the multiple challenges of Colombian academics and practitioners to improve the economic valuation practice and complement and recognize the multiple social relationships and the multiple views in terms of the values nature has.

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RESUMEN Se incluye el estado actual de las especies de la familia Cichlidae introducidas a Colombia, con especial énfasis en las tilapias, analizando la situación de su distribución, el manejo, los impactos y la situación de estas actividades ilícitas. El número de introducciones alcanza la cifra de 26, entre las cuales 12 han sido registradas en hábitats dulceacuícolas y estuarinos. Existe entre estos últimos varios casos de hibridación y trasplantes a diferentes cuencas hidrográficas. Su presencia en las granjas de producción acuícola y desde hace algunos años en las pesquerías, agrava aún más el futuro de las especies nativas.