Determinación de la variación en la composición y estructura de la comunidad zooplanctónica en relación con las condiciones fisicoquímicas, en la Bahía de Cartagena (departamento de Bolívar) 2006

The variation and structure of the zooplankton community in connection with the physic-chemical conditions were determined in the Bay of Cartagena, during the months of February to November 2006, comprising the three climate seasons. A richness of 97 species was recorded and 18 of them were classified as new records for the Bay of Cartagena. A species with a very special feature was found; their biogeography is limited to the South Pacific: Corystoides chilensis. This species showed regularity in the samplings, which means they have a high distribution in the bay. Probably their means of introduction to the bay was via ballast from ships from international traffic. Taking into account the features of the study area, with respect to being considered as estuarine, it is worth mentioning that the higher values of species richness are recorded during the dry season with 75, followed by the transition one with 73 and the rainy season with 52. In conclusion the input of nutrients is considered to come from the Canal del Dique and the submarine emissary which are the ones which shape behavior of the physical and chemical parameters during the different climatic seasons of the year, and, additionally affect the distribution and dynamics of the community.