Abstract

VASQUEZ-R., Jesús Manuel  and  BOCANEGRA-M., Joan Stiven. Ecological aspects of decapods from Guayuriba river (Meta, Colombia). Caldasia [online]. 2019, vol.41, n.2, pp.392-403. ISSN 0366-5232.  https://doi.org/10.15446/caldasia.v41n2.69544.

The biomass and detritus-shredding role of the decapods contribute to the organic matter processing and nutrient recycling in the aquatic ecosystems. However, little is known about their biology and ecology. The objective of this research was to determine the richness and distribution of decapods, and to describe some of their biological aspects in the Guayuriba river. We caught the organisms with electric fishing in eleven stations. Richness and distribution were determined. We compare density diagrams through Kruskal-Wallis test, total length, of cephalothorax and weight, between males, females and stations. We related the number and weight of eggs against weight and length of the cephalothorax of Macrobrachium reyesi females. Three species were recorded, the most frequently was M. reyesi, followed by Forsteria venezuelensis and Macrobrachium amazonicum. Contrary to M. amazonicum, the females of M. reyesi were larger than the males. At spatial level, males and females of M. reyesi registered significant differences in total length, cephalothorax, and weight, and these were higher in ovate females than in non-ovate females. Female sizes were positively correlated with eggs' number and egg weight. M. reyesi presents similar reproductive strategies to species fully adapted to freshwater. Its size to reach sexual maturity is relatively small in relation to other shrimp species. This basic research will facilitate suitable management of resources with fishing potential in the Orinoquia, characterized by its great water richness.

Keywords : Crabs; Orinoquia; reproductive aspects; shrimp.

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