RIVERINE FLOODPLAIN LAKES AS HABITAT FOR FRESHWATER FISHES: A CASE STUDY IN THE AYAPEL FLOODPLAIN LAKE (CoRDOBA), COLOMBIA

• Published in: Actualidades biológicas Vol. 32; no. 92; p. 53
• Main Authors: Jimenez-Segura, Luz F, Carvajal-Quintero, Juan D, Aguirre, Nestor
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 01.01.2010
• Subjects: Pisces
• ISSN: 0304-3584

Shallow lakes of tropical, fluvial, floodplain systems are suitable habitats that provide food and shelter for fish, especially during periods of early development stages. Due to the strong influence of the flood pulse on these environments, there are critical periods (i.e., severe drought) to the fish fauna. By analysing the food and shelter supply for fish fauna, the condition factor k and the reproductive activity of several fish species in the assemblage in the Ayapel floodplain lake (Cordoba), Colombia, in different hydrologic periods of the years 2004 and 2005, the authors found, that the body condition and reproduction of fishes were associated with food supply and habitat in the Ayapel floodplain lake. And these in turn, were determined by the change in the volume of water stored in the lake.