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The study of the relationships existing between littoral transformation and climate change impacts- with associated hazards, vulnerabilities and risks – represents the first step in the design of adaptation plans for coastal zones (risk reduction). Risk assessments provide information on the pressure to which the coastal zone is exposed and its adaptive capacity. In these assessments, it is important to examine interacting physical attributes and socio-economic, conservational and archeological/cultural characteristics. Determination of coastal susceptibility or vulnerability is an important instrument for managers/planners for coastal preservation, protection and development, as vulnerability outcomes provide baseline information and a scientific basis for any envisaged coastal erosion management plan together with mitigation measures under sustainability aspects. This chapter deals with a methodological approach to risk determination of extreme wave impacts. The approach is based on selection and evaluation of three types of variables: i) the forcing variables contributing to extreme wave-induced erosion, ii) dynamic variables that determine the resilience to erosion (susceptibility) and (iii) the vulnerable targets grouped in three different contexts (socio-economic, ecological and heritage). These are combined into two separate indices, the Hazard Index (combining forcing and susceptibility) and the Vulnerability Index, which together constitute the Coastline Risk to Extreme Waves as a single numerical measure of the risk for a given area. Maps generated with this methodology can be used as a guideline contributing to the determination of causes, processes and consequences derived from the extreme waves and associated processes.

Two new species of the genus Terebra are described conchologically to the Atlantic coast of Colombia. The species are Terebra colombiensis and T. sterigmoides. They are differentiable mainly because of their sculpture, protoconch and spire angle. They are part of a group of Western Atlantic terebrids informally called "T. doellojuradoi complex" and differ from the Brazilian species in having well-developed pair of folds at columella. This character approaches the species described here to the Argentinean T. doellojuradoi.Duas novas espécies do gênero Terebra são descritas conquiliologicamente para a costa atlântica da Colômbia. As espécies são Terebra colombiensis e T. sterigmoides. Elas são diferenciáveis principalmente com base na escultura, protoconcha e ângulo da espira. Elas pertencem a um grupo de terebrídeos do Atlântico oeste informalmente chamado de "complexo T. doellojuradoi" e diferem das espécies brasileiras por ter um par de pregas bem desenvolvidas na columela. Este caráter aproxima as espécies descritas neste da argentina T. doellojuradoi.

El desarrollo industrial y económico de Colombia se ha expandido en la búsqueda de nuevos recursos minerales hacia los límites del mar territorial. La prospección y construcción de infraestructuras en el mar plantean nuevos retos para el desarrollo sostenible del país. Este estudio de línea base se realizó con el fin de conocer las especies de invertebrados marinos que se han establecido sobre las únicas plataformas permanentes para la explotación de gas ubicadas mar afuera en La Guajira, al norte del Caribe colombiano: plataformas A y B, construidas sobre fondos de 18 y 33 m de profundidad, respectivamente. Por medio de buceo autónomo Scuba, se recolectaron e identificaron 116 especies de invertebrados marinos. Los crustáceos presentaron la mayor riqueza de especies (50 especies), con el infraorden Brachyura como el mejor representado con 10 familias y acumulando 44% de las especies. Los moluscos comprendieron el segundo grupo con 29 especies, seguidos de anélidos con 14, esponjas con 12, cnidarios con 7 y finalmente equinodermos con 4. Los organismos sésiles filtradores dominaron en número de individuos, mientras las formas móviles presentaron un mayor número de especies. Los balanos (Balanus spp.), el octocoral Carijoa riisei y las esponjas fueron los principales constituyentes de la fauna fouling asociada a las estructuras. Aunque no existen estudios previos para el área de estudio ni para el Caribe sur, se considera que la comunidad de invertebrados marinos que ha colonizado las estructuras de las plataformas de gas de La Guajira exhibe una alta riqueza de especies e individuos asociados. The industrial and economic development of Colombia has expanded its limits towards the territorial sea in the search for new resources. The prospection and construction of infrastructures in the sea challenge new alternatives for the sustainable development of the country. The main goal of this study was to build a baseline inventory of the marine invertebrates associated to two gas platforms located offshore in La Guajira, at the northeastern Colombian Caribbean Sea: platforms A and B, sitting on sandy bottoms at 18 and 33 m depth, respectively. This inventory includes a total of 116 species of marine invertebrates that were collected by Scuba diving. Crustaceans had the greatest richness with 50 species, from which the infraorder Brachyura was the best represented with 10 families including approximately 44% of species. Mollusks comprised the second largest group with 29 species, followed by annelids with 14 species, sponges with 12 species, cnidarians with 7 species, and finally echinoderms with 4 species. Filter-feeding and sessile organisms dominated in abundance, while mobile species showed a larger number of species. The barnacles complex (Balanus spp.), the octocoral Carijoa riisei and sponges were the main components of the fouling fauna on the structures. Although there are no previous studies for the study area and the southern Caribbean, it is considered that the invertebrates community associated to gas platforms in La Guajira exhibit both high species richness and a large abundance of organisms.

Five classes of marine mollusks, including Gastropoda, Bivalvia, Cephalopoda, Scaphopoda, and Polyplacophora, have been recorded inhabiting the Colombian Caribbean Sea. Other classes with a basal position within the phylum such as Caudofoveata and Solenogastres have remained overlooked, as a result of their body shape (worm-like with no shell), small sizes (Caudofoveata 1.5 to 140 mm length), and limited taxonomic information for identifications. The presence of Caudofoveata species on the continental margin of the Colombian Caribbean Sea was evidenced through several studies conducted by Invemar between 2007 and 2012. Samples were collected from localities between Gulf of Morrosquillo and La Guajira, in a bathymetrical range from 3 to 1010 m depth. These novel outcomes suggest that Caudofoveata specimens are more common in the marine fauna inhabiting soft bottoms than previously thought.

Se estudió la composición y abundancia de los moluscos bentónicos encontrados en el departamento de La Guajira al norte del Caribe colombiano. Para esto se realizó un crucero de investigación a bordo del B/I Ancón del INVEMAR en donde se llevaron a cabo arrastres a 10 y 50 m de profundidad. Se recolectó un total de 4840 individuos, identificándose 215 especies pertenecientes a las clases Gastropoda, Bivalvia, Scaphopoda, Cephalopoda y Polyplacophora, dentro de las cuales 19 fueron especies registradas por primera vez para el departamento. La clase Gastropoda presentó el mayor número de especies (52 %) y Bivalvia la mayor abundancia (71 % de los individuos), siendo el bivalvo Laevicardium sybariticum la especie más abundante del área de estudio. Los análisis multivariados utilizados no mostraron patrones claramente definidos con relación a la profundidad y el tipo de sedimento. We studied the composition and abundance of benthic mollusks found in La Guajira along the northern Caribbean coast of Colombia. A research cruise was carried out on board the R/V Ancón INVEMAR, from which bottom trawlings were conducted at 10 and 50 m depths. A total of 4840 individuals were collected, and 215 species identified belonging to the classes Gastropoda, Bivalvia, Scaphopoda, Cephalopoda and Polyplacophora. Nineteen species were recorded for the first time in La Guajira. The class Gastropoda had the highest number of species (52 %) and Bivalvia showed the greatest abundance (71 % of individuals). The bivalve Laevicardium sybariticum was the most abundant species in the study area. Multivariate analysis showed no defined patterns in relation to depth and bottom type.

We describe a new bathyal species of scaphopod belonging to the genus Striocadulus Emerson based on conchological and radular characters. The specimens were collected at a depth of 404-412 m off Bocas de Ceniza (Colombian Caribbean). Striocadulus magdalenensis new species can be distinguished from its other congeners by differences in its apical section, and both number and extent of longitudinal striae. This is the first record of this genus in the Atlantic Ocean. Se describe una nueva especie batial de escafópodo perteneciente al género Striocadulus Emerson basándose en características de la concha y la rádula. Los especímenes fueron colectados a 404-412 m de profundidad frente a Bocas de Ceniza (Caribe colombiano). Striocadulus magdalenensis spec. nov. se distingue de sus otros congéneres por diferencias en la sección apical y en el número y extensión de las estrías longitudinales. Este es el primer registro del género para el océano Atlántico.