Abstract
During the assessment of spiny lobster (Panulirus argus) settlement on suspended artificial collectors at Santa Marta region, the fishes and other invertebrates associated to these habitats were evaluated. The aim of this research was determine the species of bryozoans present in the artificial habitats deployed in Pozos Colorados Bay, Isla Pelicano and Taganga Bay, as well as analyse the ecological factors of their distribution. As a result, ten bryozoans species were found, from which Alcyonidium cf. mamillatum, Bugula neritina, Bugula cf. guara, Catenicella uberrima and Aspiscellaria piscaderaensis were reported for the first time in the Colombian Caribbean and for some of these, it extended their distribution to the Tropical Western Atlantic. In the rainy season (September-November) in Isla Pelicano and Pozos Colorados were recorded the highest bryozoans richness and abundance, probably related with increased sedimentation and turbidity, in contrast with the wet season (December-February). On the other hand, Taganga station presented reduced values of biological variables possibly by their environmental characteristics of clear water, reduced water movement and scarce food. Artificial collectors function as suspended shelters for the settlement and development of these invertebrates, and clearly are effective tools for diversity and ecological evaluations, as well as mariculture activities.
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