Valoración hidrológica e ictiológica de los sectores del medio río Cauca, entre sus efluentes (Ríos San Francisco, Campoalegre y Chinchiná) Caldas (Colombia)

Abstract

Objective: To make known fish associated to the middle course of the Cauca river (Municipalities of Chinchiná and Palestina, Department of Caldas, Colombia). Scope: Qualitative and quantitative inventory of the observed individuals and the information provided by the samplings. Methodology: Direct observation, measurement of physical and chemical parameters of waters and capture of fish using local arts and methods. Main results: The records of 14 species of native fish as well as the physicochemical and limnological water status are confirmed. Conclusions: It is a pioneering work to understand: (1) the water quality of the Cauca River, which is abundant only in Valle del Cauca and Quindio, where limnology and pollution studies have been conducted. In Caldas, the physical and chemical water conditions and the rainy and dry seasons constitute the main regulating elements of the frequency alterations of fish in the river; (2) The physical (total suspended solids, temperature) and chemical (conductivity, dissolved oxygen, pH) characterization held in the waters of the San Francisco (St. 1) and Campoalegre (St. 5) rivers, both tributaries of the Cauca river and the Cauca river itself (Sts. 2, 3, 4), show very similar trends despite the differences and impacts present in their basins; the rainy and dry seasons regulated frequency and relative abundance of fish in the Cauca River; (3) Chaetostoma fisheri (cucha stone, brown corroncho) was the most abundant species, followed by Pimelodus grosskopfii (Catfish Key, white bearded) and by Pterygoplichthys undecimalis (Soldier, paraco, broken doghouse) because of their equitable presence in sampling stations and in almost all stations; and (4) the fishermen claim that traditionally there are relationships between the presence of fish and the weather, as we noted in this study.