Article
Environmental Sciences
Ostin Garces-Ordonez, Juan F. Saldarriaga-Velez, Luisa F. Espinosa-Diaz
Summary: Marine litter in mangroves is mainly caused by poor waste management practices and natural disasters, with plastics being the most abundant type of litter. Research shows high litter pollution in mangroves near urban areas and lower pollution in areas with little urban influence.
MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN
(2021)
Article
Microbiology
Natalia Beatriz Comba Gonzalez, Albert Nicolas Nino Corredor, Liliana Lopez Kleine, Dolly Montoya Castano
Summary: This study characterized the epiphytic bacterial community from Ulva lactuca macroalgae in Santa Marta, Colombia, revealing differences in bacterial composition compared to macroalgae from Germany and Australia, driven by shifts in seawater temperature. This highlights the importance of functional studies on the microbiota associated with U. lactuca in the Colombian Caribbean Sea.
CURRENT MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Review
Environmental Sciences
Patricia Romero-Murillo, Jorge L. Gallego, Vincent Leignel
Summary: This article assesses the environmental pollution and impact on biodiversity in Cartagena Bay in the Colombian Caribbean and calls for strengthened monitoring and policy-making.
Article
Food Science & Technology
Araceli E. Rossignoli, Begona Ben-Gigirey, Monica Cid, Carmen Marino, Helena Martin, Soledad Garrido, Francisco Rodriguez, Juan Blanco
Summary: This study aimed to assess the prevalence and concentrations of lipophilic toxins in marine invertebrates in the northwest Iberian Peninsula and evaluate the use of wild mussels as sentinel organisms for toxicity. The results showed the widespread presence of 13-desmethyl spirolide C, pinnatoxin G, okadaic acid, and dinophysistoxins 2 in various non-traditional vectors. The emerging toxins had the highest prevalence in most of the groups studied.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Cristina Bosch-Orea, Cristian Rafael Kleemann, Carolina Turnes Pasini Deolindo, Luciano Molognoni, Alexsandro Dallegrave, Heitor Daguer, Ana Carolina de Oliveira Costa, Rodrigo Barcellos Hoff
Summary: This study reported the co-occurrence of biotoxins and emerging contaminants in oysters and mussels from the main production sites in Santa Catarina. Chemometric tools were used to evaluate different sample preparation techniques, and the results showed the presence of multiple contaminants in these shellfish. The study emphasized the importance of monitoring biotoxins and using oysters and mussels as sentinel organisms for risk analysis of emerging contaminants in coastal regions.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Gunasekaran Kannan, Bilal Mghili, Emanuela Di Martino, Anna Sanchez-Vidal, Blanca Figuerola
Summary: Increasing anthropogenic litter in the marine environment has provided substrates for fouling organisms. This study found 17 encrusting species on different types of stranded litter on beaches along the southeast coast of India, with one invasive species detected. The most common species associated with marine litter were bryozoans and barnacles. This is the first documentation of marine litter as a vector for species dispersal in India, highlighting the increasing risk of non-indigenous organisms invasion.
MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Aya Abd-Elkader, El Sayed A. E. Hamed, Aldoushy Mahdy, Soha Shabaka
Summary: This study is the first exploration of microplastics in marine invertebrates in the Red Sea Coast of Egypt. The research found that the concentrations of microplastics varied among different species, with higher concentrations in bivalves compared to sediment dwellers and grazers. The identified plastic polymers suggested sources related to tourism and maritime activities. Additionally, the study indicated that the estimated human exposure to microplastics through bivalve consumption was minimal.
MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Ostin Garces-Ordonez, Juan F. Saldarriaga-Velez, Luisa F. Espinosa-Diaz, Albert D. Patino, Jose Cusba, Miquel Canals, Kevin Mejia-Esquivia, Laura Fragozo-Velasquez, Sol Saenz-Arias, Tania Cordoba-Meza, Martin Thiel
Summary: This study assesses the current state of microplastic pollution in the fragile tropical lagoon ecosystem of Cienaga Grande de Santa Marta (CGSM) in Colombia. The results show that microplastics are present in both water and sediments, as well as in the digestive tracts of fish species. The abundance of microplastics is higher near river mouths and in urban areas with fishing activities and aquaculture infrastructures. The microplastic pollution in CGSM poses a threat to the lagoon ecosystem and to the local people who rely on artisanal fishing, highlighting the urgent need for effective pollution reduction measures.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Luis G. Perez, Juan J. Ferrer, Alvaro Bermejo, Yoselin K. Mejia, Gabriel F. Romero, Oscar Alvarez-Silva
Summary: This paper reviews the scientific knowledge on coastal processes in the continental Colombian Caribbean Coast, focusing on estuarine dynamics, wave climate, and coastline evolution. The review provides an updated baseline of the research status and identifies areas that have been extensively studied as well as those that require further efforts. The paper also presents the author's vision on important physical-coastal and transdisciplinary issues to be addressed in the future.
REGIONAL STUDIES IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Entomology
Laura Natalia Robayo-Sanchez, Yesica Lopez, Sebastian Munoz-Leal, Alejandro Ramirez-Hernandez, Ader Aleman, Jesus Alfredo Cortes-Vecino, Salim Mattar, Alvaro A. Faccini-Martinez
Summary: Three studies on the biology of Ornithodoros puertoricensis are available in the literature, using different hosts and incubation temperatures. In this study, the life cycle data of O. puertoricensis specimens collected in Colombia were analyzed under laboratory conditions. The study found variations in feeding and molting periods among different stages of development and in the two gonotrophic cycles recorded. The average duration of the entire life cycle was also determined.
EXPERIMENTAL AND APPLIED ACAROLOGY
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Isabel Acosta-Coley, Maria Cabarcas-Montalvo, Ricardo Enrique Hernandez-Lambrano, Lucellys Sierra-Marquez, Camilo Valcarcel-Castellanos, Diego Duque, Sebastian Martinez-Silva, Milena Marrugo, Milena Benavides-Serrato
Summary: Lionfish, invasive species in the Caribbean, are being controlled through capture and consumption strategies in the Corales del Rosario y San Bernardo National Natural Park. Total mercury levels in muscle were measured for the first time, ranging from 0.01 to 0.38 µg/g, with compliance to consumption regulations. However, a precautionary approach and continuous monitoring are strongly advised due to potential daily health risks.
MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Marine
Karem Oviedo Prada, Bismarck Jigena Antelo, Nathalia Otalora Murillo, Jeanette Romero Cozar, Francisco Contreras-de-Villar, Juan Jose Munoz-Perez
Summary: The Oceanographic and Hydrographic Research Center in Colombia has made significant progress in marine geophysics, focusing on geomagnetism, sub-bottom profiling, and side-scan sonar techniques. The development of geomagnetic methods is not only important for advancing scientific knowledge, but also for supporting issues of national sovereignty.
JOURNAL OF MARINE SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Linda Linney Rusinque-Quintero, Grace Andrea Montoya-Rojas, Angie Lorena Moyano-Molano
Summary: Microplastics, released by various sources, pose a risk to ecological processes and their abundance is linked to human activities and the Anthropocene era. The Covid-19 pandemic has further increased the emission of plastics, such as face masks and disinfectant containers, globally. These microplastics, generated over time from the transformation of plastics, can be transported by air and water dynamics and accumulate in soils, water bodies, and ecosystems, including human food chains. Coastal lagoons, hosting strategic ecosystems and serving as convergence areas for ecological flows, have become sinks for microplastic particles, endangering their productivity and value. This study aims to evaluate and classify the environmental risks associated with microplastic contamination in a coastal lagoon system, specifically in the Caribbean Sea and the lagoon complex. A comprehensive planetary systems study was conducted to understand the disturbances caused by microplastics.
MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Jhostin Ramos, Marco Boto, Juan Felipe Blanco-Libreros, Jose M. Riascos
Summary: Anthropogenic disturbances caused by urban expansion have led to lost mangrove habitats in southern Colombia, but thriving populations of Littoraria angulifera have been found in urban areas on artificial substrates, displaying different population characteristics. The snails in anthropogenic substrates show significantly higher abundance and smaller size ranges compared to natural habitats, indicating potential behavioral adjustments in response to novel urban seascapes.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Oceanography
Nelson Rangel-Buitrago, Allan T. Williams, Anton Micallef, William J. Neal, Orrin H. Pilkey
Summary: This study conducted a scenic assessment of 300 coastal sites along the Caribbean Coast of Colombia using the Coastal Scenery Evaluation System (CSES). The evaluation revealed that a significant number of sites are experiencing negative impacts, highlighting the need for management strategies to protect the scenic value of the coast.
OCEAN & COASTAL MANAGEMENT
(2022)
