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Mojica-Figueroa, Beatriz H.; Arévalo-González, Katherine; González, Fabio A.; Murillo, James
(detail)
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2014 |
Caracterización de la calidad del agua en sitios de preferencia del manatí antillano (Trichechus manatus) en la ciénaga de Paredes, Magdalena Medio, Santander, Colombia [Water quality characterization of sites preferred by the West Indian Manatee (Trichechus manatus) in the Paredes Wetlands of the middle Magdalena River Basin in Santander state, Colombia].
Biota Colombiana 15, Suplemento 1: 174-187. 5 tabs. 6 figs.
–ABSTRACT: This study characterized water quality at sites of preference of the West Indian manatee (Trichechus manatus) in the Cienaga of Paredes, an area recognized as of great ecological importance for the establishment of the species within the Middle Magdalena of Santander state (Colombia). From previous work and structured interviews eight locations were identified of which four sites were selected: Los Pozos, La Chorola and Quebrada La Gómez for greater sighting reports for shelter and food and the Punta del Roblar site for reproductive activities. The environmental quality of these sites was assessed using the physicochemical index ICA and biological BMWP/col both agree that the site with the worst water quality corresponds to the Quebrada Gomez with acceptable and very critical appraisals, respectively; the other sites were very similar to this assessment. The results of the analysis of repeated measures (ANOVA) showed no significant differences between these, but did find differences between seasons with the lowest value assigned to the last month of the year of sampling (ICA X = 0.62 ± 0.15). Continuous monitoring of the environmental conditions of Manatee habitat is urgent, to allow us to obtain an adequate understanding of the relationship between ecosystem health and animal health, in order to establish management strategies that contribute to the conservation of the species at the regional scale.
RESUMEN: Este estudio caracterizó la calidad del agua en sitios de preferencia del manatí antillano (Trichechus manatus) en la ciénaga de Paredes, reconocida como área de gran importancia ecológica para la especie, dentro de la región del Magdalena Medio santandereano (Colombia). A partir de trabajos previos y entrevistas estructuradas se identificaron ocho localidades de las cuales se seleccionaron cuatro: Los Pozos, La Chorola y la quebrada La Gómez (reportes de mayor avistamiento para refugio y alimentación), y Punta del Roblar, importante para actividades reproductivas. La calidad ambiental de estos sitios fue evaluada utilizando el índice fisicoquímico (ICA) y el índice biológico (BMWP/col). Ambos coinciden que el sitio con la peor calidad de agua corresponde a la quebrada La Gómez con valoración aceptable (ICA) y muy crítica (BMWP/col); los sitios restantes se mantienen muy cercanos a esta evaluación. Los resultados del análisis de medidas repetidas ANOVA no mostraron diferencias significativas entre stios, por el contrario de lo encontrado entre temporadas, identificándose con la valoración más baja el último mes del año de muestreo (ICA X=0,62 ± 0,15). Estos resultados pueden identificar una amenaza para esta población de manatí y es importante complementarlos con estudios en diferentes temporadas climáticas relacionados con las comunidades asociadas a las macrófitas, las cuales ampliarían el conocimiento de las relaciones ecológicas entre un vertebrado herbívoro y los demás niveles tróficos, y así establecer estrategias de manejo que contribuyan a la conservación de la especie a nivel regional.
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Vélez, Juan; Hirzmann, Jörg; Arévalo-González, Katerin; Lange, Malin K.; Seipp, Anika; Gärtner, Ulrich; Taubert, Anja; Caballero, Susana; Hermosilla, Carlos
(detail)
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2019 |
Parasite fauna of wild Antillean manatees (Trichechus manatus manatus) of the Andean Region, Colombia.
Parasites & Vectors doi.org/10.1186/s13071-019-3448-1
–ABSTRACT: Background: Antillean manatees (Trichechus manatus manatus) are large herbivorous aquatic mammals living in limited areas of South, Central and North America. As with other aquatic mammals, Antillean manatees can be infected by a variety of protozoan and metazoan parasites, some of them with zoonotic potential, which affect not only their welfare but also population health status. Therefore, we conducted the first epidemiological survey in Colombian free-ranging Antillean manatees to estimate their actual gastrointestinal parasite status.
Results: In total, 69 faecal samples were collected from free-ranging individual manatees during ecology field studies in the rivers Carare and San Juan and in two associated wetlands in the Andean region of Colombia. Parasite diversity encompassed six different endoparasite species. The highest prevalence was found for protozoan infections with Eimeria nodulosa (47.8%) and Eimeria manatus-like species (type A, B; 43.4%), followed by Entamoeba sp. (14.49%) and Giardia sp. (1.4%) infections. In addition, infections with the trematode Chiorchis fabaceus were detected at a high prevalence (33.3%). Molecular characterization of sirenian Eimeria species led to the distinction of three species, E. nodulosa and two E. manatus-like species (type A, B). Phylogenetic analyses indicated a host-specific adaptation of sirenian Eimeria species as previously reported for Eimeria species from other mammalian hosts.
Conclusions: This study provides the first record of Antillean manatee infection with Giardia and Entamoeba species in Colombia, representing two important anthropozoonotic parasite genera. This survey should serve as a baseline investigation for future monitoring on parasitic zoonoses in this mammal and encourage investigations on their impact on both public health and wild manatee welfare.
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Bibliography and Index of the Sirenia and Desmostylia 