Resumen Objetivos: Caracterizar los anfípodos recolectados en lavados esofágicos de la tortuga verde Chelonia mydas (Linnaeus, 1758). Alcance: Incremento de la caracterización de la diversidad de un grupo poco estudiado, pero de gran importancia en ambientes bentónicos, en Colombia. Metodología: Los anfípodos fueron recolectados a partir de lavados esofágicos realizados a 77 juveniles de tortuga verde entre febrero y diciembre 2012 en Isla Gorgona, Pacífico Colombiano. Principales resultados: Se reporta por primera vez para el Pacífico Colombiano el anfípodo Hyachelia tortugae Barnard, 1967, una especie que se encuentra exclusivamente como epibionte de tortugas marinas. Se registraron tres individuos en total de H. tortugae en dos de las tortugas analizadas. Adicionalmente, los anfípodos hipéridos Paralycaea gracilis Claus, 1879, Schizoscelus ornatus Claus, 1879 y Parascelus sp. fueron registrados en los contenidos esofágicos de las tortugas. Conclusiones: Este trabajo resalta la necesidad de implementar estudios sistemáticos que permitan caracterizar la fauna asociada a tortugas marinas en el Pacífico colombiano.

Abstract Objectives: Characterize the amphipods collected in esophageal lavages of the green turtle Chelonia mydas (Linnaeus, 1758). Scope: Increase the characterization of diversity of a poorly known group, but of great importance in benthic environments, in Colombia. Methodology: Amphipods were collected from esophageal lavages carried out on 77 green turtles between February and December 2012 at Gorgona Island, Colombian Pacific. Main results: We report the occurrence of the amphipod Hyachelia tortugae Barnard, 1967, a species that lives exclusively as an epibiont of sea turtles, for the first time for the Colombian Pacific. Three H. tortugae individuals occurred in two of the analyzed turtles. The hyperiid amphipods Paralycaea gracilis Claus, 1879, Schizoscelus ornatus Claus, 1879, and Parascelus sp. were also collected in the esophageal contents of the turtles. Conclusions: This study highlights that systematic studies should be carried out to characterize the associated fauna in sea turtles in the Colombian Pacific.

Se comparó la distribución de tallas y condición corporal de los dos morfotipos conocidos de tortuga verde (Chelonia mydas) en el área de forrajeo del Parque Nacional Natural Gorgona (PNNG) en el Pacífico colombiano entre 2003 y 2012. Se tomaron medidas de largo recto de caparazón (LRC), largo curvo de caparazón (LCC), peso y condición corporal de 1.023 tortugas capturadas en los arrecifes del PNNG. Se capturaron más tortugas negras (n = 747) que amarillas (n = 276), todas juveniles. Las tortugas negras fueron significativamente más grandes y pesadas que las amarillas. El tamaño de reclutamiento a la zona nerítica fue de 40,0-49,9 cm para ambos morfotipos, pero hubo más tortugas amarillas que negras en este intervalo de tamaños, lo cual sugiere una variación en el patrón de reclutamiento. El índice de condición corporal de las tortugas amarillas fue significativamente más alto que el de las tortugas negras, lo cual podría indicar diferencias en la utilización de recursos. Con base en los resultados obtenidos, se sugiere que el PNNG podría funcionar como un área de reclutamiento para las tortugas amarillas, las cuales llegan más pequeñas a esta zona; y como parte de la ruta migratoria costera de las tortugas negras, las cuales llegan más grandes e incluso residen en esta localidad durante un lapso de tiempo desconocido.

The size distribution and body condition of the two morphotypes of green turtle (Chelonia mydas) foraging in Gorgona Natural National Park (GNNP) in the Colombian Pacific was assessed from 2003 to 2012. Measurements of straight carapace length (SCL), curved carapace length (CCL), weight, and body condition of 1,023 turtles captured on the GNNP reefs were recorded. More black turtles (n = 747) than yellow turtles (n = 276) were captured, all of them juveniles. Black turtles were significantly larger and heavier than yellow turtles. The size of recruitment to the neritic zone was 40.0-49.9 cm SCL for both morphotypes, but there were more yellow than black turtles in this size class, indicating a difference in the recruitment pattern. The body condition index of yellow turtles was significantly higher than that of black turtles, which could indicate differences in resource use. Based on our results, we suggest that GNNP might function as a recruitment area for yellow turtles, which arrive at smaller sizes, and as part of a coastal migratory route for black turtles, which arrive at larger sizes and maintain residence at this location for an unknown period of time.

Se determinó la abundancia de salpas y doliólidos en ocho estaciones costeras alrededor de Isla Gorgona (Pacífico colombiano), entre septiembre 2005 y agosto 2006. Se hicieron arrastres oblicuos desde 50m hasta la superficie; se midió la biomasa zooplanctónica total, el número de salpas y doliólidos por arrastres, y la frecuencia de ocurrencia por estación y por mes. Se registró la temperatura superficial y de fondo, la salinidad superficial y de fondo, así como la concentración de clorofila a en cada estación. Se observaron picos de abundancia de tunicados en septiembre 2005 y marzo 2006. Las altas abundancias en marzo fueron probablemente debidas a una intrusión de agua fría a la zona de estudio, la cual resultó en aguas más frías y saladas, y en una termoclina más somera. Los tunicados fueron probablemente advectados hacia el área por corrientes provenientes del suroeste, y la topografía subacuática causó una agregación de estos organismos. En septiembre, la influencia de las descargas de los ríos continentales, así como aportes por la precipitación sobre la isla pudieron haber provisto mayor cantidad de nutrientes y resultado en mayores abundancias. Los grandes vertebrados marinos filtradores que se alimentan de tunicados incluyen tortugas verdes juveniles, las cuales usan las aguas de Isla Gorgona como zona de forrajeo, como parte de su ruta de migración en el Pacífico Oriental Tropical. Estas tortugas podrían estar utilizando los tunicados oportunistamente, como un recurso esporádico que está disponible en ciertas épocas del año.

Gorgona National Park protects fertile waters that support large vertebrates, including green sea turtles (Chelonia mydas), and for them, gelatinous zooplankton constitute a food resource that can be found year-round in Gorgona Island´s coastal waters. This study was carried out to determine the abundance of salps and doliolids around Gorgona Island over a year, and to determine whether this is a resource that could be used reliably year-round by green turtles and other large plankton-feeding predators. The monthly abundance of salps and doliolids at eight coastal stations around Gorgona Island (Colombian Pacific) was determined between September 2005 and August 2006. Oblique tows were carried out from 50m to the surface, total zooplankton biomass was measured and the number of salps and doliolids per tow, and frequency of occurrence per station and month were determined. Superficial and bottom sea temperature, superficial and bottom salinity, and chlorophyll-a concentration were recorded at each station. There were tunicate abundance peaks in September 2005 and March 2006. The high abundances in March were probably due to a cold water intrusion into the study area, which resulted in colder saltier water and a shallower thermocline. Tunicates were probably advected to the area by currents from the southwest and aggregated due to the underwater topography. In September, the influence of continental river discharge as well as inputs from rainfall over the island could have provided increased nutrients and resulted in higher abundances. The large filter-feeding vertebrates that feed on tunicates include green sea turtle juveniles, which use coastal waters of Gorgona Island as feeding grounds, as part of their migration route in the Eastern Tropical Pacific. These turtles could be using tunicates opportunistically, as a sporadic resource that is available at certain times of the year. Rev. Biol. Trop. 62 (Suppl. 1): 149-159. Epub 2014 February 01.

Objective: To assess prevalence and correlates of family caregiver burdens associated with mental and physical conditions worldwide. Methods: Cross-sectional community surveys asked 43,732 adults residing in 19 countries of the WHO World Mental Health (WMH) Surveys about chronic physical and mental health conditions of first-degree relatives and associated objective (time, financial) and subjective (distress, embarrassment) burdens. Magnitudes and associations of burden are examined by kinship status and family health problem; population-level estimates are provided. Results: Among the 18.9-40.3% of respondents in high, upper-middle, and low/lower-middle income countries with first-degree relatives having serious health problems, 39.0-39.6% reported burden. Among those, 22.9-31.1% devoted time, 10.6-18.8% had financial burden, 23.3-27.1% reported psychological distress, and 6.0-17.2% embarrassment. Mean caregiving hours/week was 12.9-16.5 (83.7-147.9 hours/week/100 people aged 18+). Mean financial burden was 15.1% of median family income in high, 32.2% in upper-middle, and 44.1% in low/lower-middle income countries. A higher burden was reported by women than men, and for care of parents, spouses, and children than siblings. Conclusions: The uncompensated labor of family caregivers is associated with substantial objective and subjective burden worldwide. Given the growing public health importance of the family caregiving system, it is vital to develop effective interventions that support family caregivers.