Abstract

BUITRAGO-SUAREZ, Uriel A.; MOJICA, Jose I.  and  BONNEAU, Lisa K.. Habitat perturbation and survival strategies of the Andean catfish Astroblepus mariae (Fowler, 1919). Rev. acad. colomb. cienc. exact. fis. nat. [online]. 2015, vol.39, n.150, pp.36-41. ISSN 0370-3908.

Astroblepid species inhabit the Andean Cordilleras in South America. Their habitat has undergone a rapid transformation to the unimaginable levels of degradation since ancient times. State of knowledge on the habitat perturbation and the concomitant extirpation of endemic astroblepid species is scarce. The Andes Cordilleras are characterized by fertile soil and as a result of that, vast regions are transformed for agriculture and pasture for cattle. These processes require the use of water obtained from creeks and springs that causes remarkable changes of the natural configuration of these water systems and the disappearance of the fish fauna together with the zooplankton and aquatic flora. Despite these human actions, some species of Astroblepus may have the ability to respond to the rapid habitat transformation enabling them to survive. In this paper we will discuss the incidence of habitat perturbation in a localized stream segment on the presence of Astroblepus mariae.

Keywords : Habitat perturbation; survival; refuge; buffer zone; perturbación de hábitat; supervivencia; refugio; zona amortiguadora.

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