Biological diversity in the Ayapel (Colombia) floodplain system

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Ayapel marsh and hundreds of water-bodies in the surroundings are permanent wetlands that belong to the inland delta of the San Jorge and Cauca rivers in the Caribbean coast of Colombia. he delta covers more than 140 km2 during the lood period. Because of its strategic position near the foothills, close to Andean settlements, and being the irst large wetland of the Momposina Depression, there are several important reasons to study Ayapel. Scientiic data compiled by the University of Antioquia through the GAIA and GeoLimna research groups, have conclude geological, hydrological, limnological and geographical projects in the last decade. One of the most conspicuous criteria by which Ayapel is well known, is for its Fauna and Flora, especially by the numerous and diverse migratory birds, endangered mammals species and the variety and size of ish. he ish production in the 80›s reached 30,000 Ton annually. his document is an approach to the description and quantitative analysis of the biological diversity found in diferent studies in the zone, which has never before been compiled. Secondary information was used as source of data, with which we are proposing the interest to subscribe Ayapel as a Ramsar-Convention site.