Gorgona, Baudó y Darién (Chocó Biogeográfico, Colombia): ecorregiones modelo para los estudios ecológicos de comunidades de quebradas costeras

Coastal streams in the Gorgona National Natural Park, Baudó, and Darién ecoregions of Colombia's Biogeographic Chocó exhibit unique ecological characteristics that diverge from traditional river typologies. These short, steep streams, shaped by tectonic activity, feature frequent waterfalls and cascades, with distinct step-and-pool sequences in montane reaches and cobble-bed glides or riffles in coastal plains. Flow regimes vary dramatically: flashy in Pacific drainages with high annual rainfall (>7000mm) and seasonally dry in Caribbean drainages (<3500mm), leading to significant ecological impacts from floods and droughts. These streams support a high diversity of primary freshwater fish, including endemics, and diadromous species shared with Central America and the Antilles, while lacking diadromous gastropods. Closed canopies in low-order streams contribute substantial litter inputs, shaping consumer assemblages dominated by diadromous fish and shrimp. The study synthesizes existing data to highlight these streams as model systems for understanding coastal stream ecology in volcanic oceanic contexts.

Blanco, J. F., Escobar-Sierra, C., & Carvajal--Quintero, J. D. (2014). Gorgona, Baudó y Darién (Chocó Biogeográfico, Colombia): ecorregiones modelo para los estudios ecológicos de comunidades de quebradas costeras. Revista de Biología Tropical, 62, 43. https://doi.org/10.15517/rbt.v62i0.15978