The water chemistry of Northern Patagonian lakes and their nitrogen status in comparison with remote lakes in different regions of the globe

M. ROGORA1, J. MASSAFERRO2, A. MARCHETTO1, G.A. TARTARI1

JOURNAL OF LIMNOLOGY

CNR Italia

Año: 2008 vol. 67 p. 112 - 124

1129-5767

Abstract Eighteen small lakes located in the Northern Patagonian Lake District, in southern South America, were sampled in 2001 and analysed for the main chemical variables. The study lakes span a wide geographical and altitudinal range and belong partly to the Pacific and partly to the Atlantic watershed. The main aim of this study was to investigate the relationships between water chemistry and physical/geographical properties of these lakes to evaluate their trophic status in relation to anthropogenic pressure. Our results showed that nitrogen content of northern Patagonian lakes is related to atmospheric inputs. These findings were compared to those obtained in previous studies carried out in the same area.and also in other areas of the globe (the Central Southern Alps in Italy, the Sierra da Estrela region in Portugal, the Svalbard Islands the Khumbu-Himal region in Nepal, and the Terra Nova Bay area in Antarctica). In the Alps, lakes receive extremely high inputs of nitrogen compounds from downwind sources like the Po Plain in Northern Italy. Conversely, the nitrogen content in remote locations such as the Andes, Antarctica and Himalaya is mainly related to atmospheric inputs demonstrating the pristine situation of those environments concerning anthropogenic pressure