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

MARIA LAURA MISERENDINO; BRAND CECILIA; YANINA ASSEF; HORAK CRISTINA; MANZO, L.M.; EPELE LUIS BELTRAN; WILLIAMS SUBIZA, EMILIO A.

Freshwaters and Wetlands of Patagonia Ecosystems and Socioecological Aspects

Springer

Año: 2022; p. 295 - 323

The diversity of freshwater ecosystems of Argentinean Patagonia sustains multiple economical activities of different magnitude.Despite the low population density (0.8–5.0 inh km ) in the region, and an economy based on agriculture and cattle raising, there is strong evidence that the ecological integrity of aquatic ecosystems and wetlands 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 Patagonian freshwater systems. Freshwater environments are highly interactive with catchment land uses. Integrity of riparian corridors plays a crucial role in the ecological functioning, and there are specific tools to evaluate the quality of riparian ecosystems. The 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.