Temporary space variance of the physical chemical components, Cartagena Bay zooplankton and microbiological organisms

Abstract

The finality of this work was the gathering of physical chemistry (nutrients, dissolved oxygen, temperature, saline, pH, turbid, total suspended solids), biological (zooplankton, pigments) and microbiological (intestinal Enterocoeles, Salmonella sp., Shigella sp., Pseudomonads sp., total Coliforms, Escherichia coli, Vibrio choleroea and fungus) data in the estuary of the Bay of Cartagena located in the north coast of South America, Colombian Caribbean sector within 75o30'-75o36'W and 10o26'-10o16'N. The preceding, with the finality of providing the continuance in there­collection of information considered in the project “Presence of Exogenous Organisms and Panthogens in Vessel ballast Waters Of International Traffic”, to execute a linear characteristic base of the bay, generate actualized information and establish the presence of possible invading species due to the discharge of the ballast waters. For the information takingin the field, previously documented methodologies were applied and validated by the Oceanographic and Hydrographic Research Center (CIOH), in which considered the water sample taking from 10 stations of the Bay of Cartagena, three depths (surface, middle, and bottom) and one periodicity taking of same of fifteen days during ten months (February through November, 2006). To assess the sanitary quality of the waters, the 2D rule of the convention established by the International Maritime Organization IMO Of 2004 was used as reference, based on the management of the efficiency of the ballast water. This way, space-time variation of the physical chemicals could be established, observing that in the rainy season and transition periods the largest pigment concentrations were reported, total suspended solids and turbid on the superficial layer, while in middle and bottom layers during the dry seasons and the transition periods, the largest concentration was of the nutrients (nitrates, orthophosphates).

As to the variables microbiological studied, total Coliforms are reported, E coli and of intestinal Enterococles above the established permitted limits of the IMO/2004, and due to this fact, the ballast taking is not recommended in any point of the Bay of Cartagena area, only twelve miles beyond. Due to the foregoing, international ports minimize the risk of contamination and the transportation of national species to other areas is avoided. It is worth mentioning that through out the study the presence of Vibrio choleroe was not reported.

Finally in the zooplankton component, new reports are constantly found, all belonging to the Malacostraca class, that is: Peisos petrunkevitchi (sergestidae), Platysanthus crenulatus (Xanthidae) Callinectissartidus (Portinidae), Xiphopenaeus Kroyeri (Penaeidae), Acanthocyclus gayi (Atelecycledae), Halicarcinus planatus, Arpheus Armillatus (Apheidae), Alpheus haterochaelis haigae (Alpheidae) Betaeusliliane (Alphedae), Loxopagurus joxocheois (Diogenidae),Pachichelis haigae (Porcellanidae), Parapagunos Diogene (Parapaguridae), Plaguciachabrus (Grapsidae). Porcellana sigsbeiana (Porcellanidae), Polyonyx quadriungulatus (Porcellanidae), Ocypode quadrata (Ocypodidae), Corystoides chilensis (Atelecyclidae), antarticus (hippolytidae).