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Zooplankton of the Colombian Pacific Ocean was investigated during June-July (2001a) and August-September (2001b). Since Oncaea venusta and O. media predominated in the copepod community, their distribution and abundance were evaluated. Organisms were extracted from surface mesozooplankton samples taken with a conic net (50cm opening, 363µm mesh). Both species were widely distributed with highest abundances mainly in neritic waters (3°-5°N). Factor analysis revealed negative and positive correlations among abundances and abiotic variables depending on each period. Cluster analysis showed three groups in 2001a and five ones in 2001b, essentially consistent with night and day abundances, and thermocline depth and width suggesting the influence of these factors on O. venusta and O. media. In future analysis it may be necessary to consider the different forms of O. media and O. venusta to establish the importance of phytoplankton and other organisms in their diet. Higher night or day abundances allude to the possible diel vertical migration of these microcrustaceans to the surface. The decrease in the general abundance of O. venusta from 2001a to 2001b (66.4% to 47.5%) contrasted with the increase of O. media (33.6% to 52.5%). These changes could be explained by the different biological response of both species to short-term variability in oceanographic conditions and the occurrence of a weak La Niña event.

From February to September 2011, in shallow waters in three sections of a rural stretch of the Bogota River, located at Cajica (Cundinamarca), some soft substrate

Algunas características biológicas de Pseudoplatystoma magdaleniatum y de Sorubim cuspicaudus fueron monitoreadas durante los años 2004 y 2005 en la cuenca media del río Magdalena y, analizamos si estas se encuentran sincronizadas con la densidad de larvas de estas dos especies derivando en el río Magdalena. Para esto se utilizó la información de 1.245 individuos adultos de P. magdaleniatum y 1.206 de S. cuspicaudus y la densidad de sus larvas en muestras de agua del río Magdalena. S. cuspicaudus se reproduce durante el periodo de “aguas bajas” mientras que P. magdaleniatum lo hace durante el periodo de “aguas subiendo”. Las hembras de las dos especies fueron siempre de mayor tamaño que los machos, la relación longitud-peso fue alométrica y solo en el caso de P. magdaleniatum las características biológicas estuvieron sincronizadas con la densidad de larvas durante el periodo de observación.

Siphonophores are colonial hydrozoans that feed on zooplankton including fish larvae, and occur throughout the world's oceans from surface waters to ocean depths. Here we describe the composition of hyponeustonic siphonophores (0–3 m depth) from the tropical Colombian Pacific Ocean based on 131 plankton samples collected between June–October from 2001–2004. Samples were dominated by species of Calycophorae, with only three species of Physonectae identified, consistent with their deeper depth distribution. Muggiaea atlantica, Chelophyes contorta, Diphyes dispar, and Eudoxoides mitra were the most common of the 21 species identified. We found moderate structuring of the siphonophore community by the salinity gradient from inshore to offshore, and greater richness during the night because of diel vertical migration. Temperature did not play a significant role in structuring siphonophore communities, perhaps because of the narrow temperature range observed (3.5 °C). We extend the known temperature and salinity range of several species, including M. atlantica up to temperatures of 28.6 °C and salinities down to 24.7. Interestingly, only polygastric stages of M. atlantica were found, suggesting the reproductive stage of M. atlantica in tropical waters might be found in deeper waters. Chelophyes appendiculata was rare in our study and C. contorta was common, providing evidence they have a potential allopatric relationship, with C. contorta replacing C. appendiculata in warm water. Finally, we found siphonophore abundance was positively related to the abundance of copepods and fish eggs, with the top 13 most abundant species all having positive correlations, suggesting siphonophore abundances are tightly controlled by their food.