Land-Use Effects on Aquatic and Wetland Ecosystems: An Overview of Environmental Impacts and Tools for Ecological Assessment

MISERENDINO, MARÍA LAURA; BRAND, CECILIA; ASSEF, YANINA ANDREA; HORAK, C.N.; MANZO, LUZ MARÍA; EPELE, LUIS BELTRAN; WILLIAMS-SUBIZA, EMILIO A.

The Freshwaters and Wetlands of Patagonia. Ecosystems and Socioecological Aspects

Springer

Año: 2022;

The diversity of freshwater ecosystems of Patagonia sustains multiple economical activities of different magnitude. Despite the low population density (0.8-5.0 inh/km2) of the region, and an economy based on agriculture and cattle raising, there is strong evidence that the ecological integrity of aquatic ecosystems is under threat. Main land use practices conducted in the region include pasture conversion, forestry, pine plantations, mining and oil extraction, and to a lesser extent, urbanization and industrial development. Dams and artificial reservoirs for irrigation, water supply and power generation, exist or are currently in progress in the main water courses. Several scientific projects studied the effect of anthropogenic stressors on environmental features, biological communities and ecosystem status of aquatic systems. Freshwater environments are highly interactive with catchment land uses, and the integrity of riparian corridors plays a crucial role in the ecological functioning and there are specifics tools to evaluate the quality of riparian ecosystems. The main impacts identified were: organic pollution, eutrophication problems, sedimentation symptoms, invasive species, and trophic alterations. These stressors had strong effects on periphyton, macrophytes and macroinvertebrate communities. Different biomarkers and bioindicators appear as promising tools for bioassessment as well as for early alerts of anthropogenic disturbance