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Mountain crabs (Decapoda: Pseudothelphusidae) are considered sensitive to various anthropogenic and environmental alterations in aquatic ecosystems. In streams of the Colombian Andean region, which drain various agroecosystems, there is little information on these organisms. Here we show the results of the abundance of Hypolobocera bouvieri, in three high Andean microcatchments of Colombia and its relationship with physicochemical variables, in Villamaría, southwestern region of the department of Caldas. The material deposited in the Entomological Collection of the Biology Program of the University of Caldas (Manizales, Colombia) was reviewed. Dissolved oxygen, total suspended solids and iron concentration were negatively correlated with the abundance of H. bouvieri, while the type of substrate showed a positive correlation. Our results contribute to the knowledge of freshwater crabs in high Andean streams with high agricultural activity (vegetable cultivation) and provide new information on the ecology of this species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The family Amaryllidaceae has been postulated as a monophyletic group in different analyses, in which three big clades are recognized as subfamilies (Agapanthoideae, Allioideae and Amaryllidoideae). We examined specimens of the family and explored different areas of the country where there were previous records or potential occurrence of the group, in order to determine the diversity of this family in Colombia. The Amaryllidaceae are represented in Colombia by 18 genera and 48 species, of which 11 genera and 27 species are native, including 9 species endemic to the country. The areas with the largest species diversity are the Western and Eastern Cordillera, and the biogeographic Chocó, especially in the departments of Cauca, Cundinamarca and Valle del Cauca. We present an updated definition of the family, considering its current circumscription, and describe the genera occurring in Colombia, as well as the inventory of the species and their distribution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vegetables are a main part of the food pyramid but consumption is a lot less than the minimum recommended. Even though we have physical resources available for an efficient production, we are importing vegetables and horticulture has not provoked processes of regional development. Horticulture in Colombia is the result of cultural interchange coming from migration and trade intended for attending particular interests, traditions, and uses. The discovery brought vegetables from Europe to America and took vegetables on the opposite way. Today, horticulture has good perspectives given its contribution to the human feeding and also given the emerging agriculture and food industry. Everywhere in Colombia, vegetables are a source of challenges for agriculture and research. Vegetables' production faces great technological constraints because of seed's importation, high illnesses and plagues' incidence, indiscriminate use of chemicals, and poor handling customs. There are also structural restrictions due to deterioration of natural resources and lack of value aggregation to the product. This way, sowed areas and productivity of the main vegetables have stopped growing. Horticulture will face in the near future restrictions due to the human health protection. It will also face challenges on the developing ways leading to improving the rural production environments and preserving natural resources. Horticulture will need coherent policies to improve the production and distribution means; in such a way that the joint goal be the main motor and that it contributes to human development and economic efficiency on the basis of technical and scientific development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]