El estado trófico de los arroyos andino-patagónicos en un gradiente de urbanización

Magalí Rechencq; María V. Fernández; Mailén E. Lallement; Marcelo F. Alonso; Patricio J. Macchi; Alejandro Sosnovsky

doi:10.25260/EA.24.34.3.0.2342

Authors

Magalí Rechencq Grupo de Evaluación y Manejo de Recursos Ícticos (GEMaRI), Instituto de Investigaciones en Biodiversidad y Medioambiente (INIBIOMA) (Universidad Nacional del Comahue-CONICET). San Carlos de Bariloche, Río Negro, Argentina https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1190-7279
María V. Fernández Grupo de Evaluación y Manejo de Recursos Ícticos (GEMaRI), Instituto de Investigaciones en Biodiversidad y Medioambiente (INIBIOMA) (Universidad Nacional del Comahue-CONICET). San Carlos de Bariloche, Río Negro, Argentina https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8075-1215
Mailén E. Lallement Instituto de Tierras, Agua y Medio Ambiente (Universidad Nacional del Comahue). Neuquén, Argentina https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0910-0732
Marcelo F. Alonso GEMaRI, Centro Regional Universitario Bariloche, Universidad Nacional del Comahue. San Carlos de Bariloche, Río Negro, Argentina
Patricio J. Macchi Grupo de Evaluación y Manejo de Recursos Ícticos (GEMaRI), Instituto de Investigaciones en Biodiversidad y Medioambiente (INIBIOMA) (Universidad Nacional del Comahue-CONICET). San Carlos de Bariloche, Río Negro, Argentina
Alejandro Sosnovsky Grupo de Evaluación y Manejo de Recursos Ícticos (GEMaRI), Instituto de Investigaciones en Biodiversidad y Medioambiente (INIBIOMA) (Universidad Nacional del Comahue-CONICET). San Carlos de Bariloche, Río Negro, Argentina https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8615-389X

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.25260/EA.24.34.3.0.2342

Keywords:

eutrophication, nitrogen use efficiency, phosphorus, periphyton, fluvial ecosystems, population growth

Abstract

The Andean-North Patagonian streams are oligotrophic ecosystems that flow through relatively undisturbed drainage basins. However, this changed with time due to the urbanization of these basins. The objective of this study was to determine the trophic state of streams located along an urbanization gradient. To do so, population density and the percentage of modified area in the drainage basin were used as urbanization variables. Additionally, the relationship of these variables with the concentration and export of total nitrogen (NT) and total phosphorus (PT) were assessed, as well as the biomass of the periphyton autotrophic community. Twelve streams located in drainage basins belonging to the city of San Carlos de Bariloche and its surroundings were sampled once during the baseflow hydrological period. The streams exhibited three trophic states: oligotrophic, mesotrophic and eutrophic. A positive relationship was observed between the basin variables and the concentration of both nutrients in the stream ecosystems. The increase in urbanization was also reflected in an increase in the autotrophic biomass of the periphyton community. Using PT as an indicator of eutrophication, the studied urban streams transitioned from oligotrophic to mesotrophic when the population reached 241 inhabitants/ km²or the modified area reached 32%. In terms of nutrient exports, only the relationships between NT and urbanization variables were significant. Considering the study’s hydrological period and the characteristics of the basins, nitrogen would predominantly enter through groundwater; however, this would not be the case for PT. In conclusion, the deterioration of stream ecosystems is consistent with an increase in urbanization in Andean Patagonia.

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