TY - JOUR
T1 - Impact of changes of land use on water quality, from tropical forest to anthropogenic occupation
T2 - A multivariate approach
AU - Rodríguez-Romero, Alexis Joseph
AU - Rico-Sánchez, Axel Eduardo
AU - Mendoza-Martínez, Erick
AU - Gómez-Ruiz, Andrea
AU - Sedeño-Díaz, Jacinto Elías
AU - López-López, Eugenia
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2018 by the authors.
PY - 2018/10/26
Y1 - 2018/10/26
N2 - Worldwide, it is acknowledged that changes of land use influence water quality; however, in tropical forests, the relationship between land use and water quality is still poorly understood. This study assessed spatial and seasonal variations in water quality, and the relationship between water quality and changes of land use in the Bobos-Nautla River, whose upper course runs across a patch of a tropical cloud forest. Spatial and seasonal variations in water quality and land use were assessed with multivariate tools. A cluster analysis, as well as a Principal Component Analysis (PCA-3D), identified three groups of sites: (1) an upper portion, which showed the best water quality and the broadest natural vegetation coverage; (2) a middle course, with high nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations associated with extensive agricultural uses; and (3) a lower course, characterized by the highest levels of total and fecal coliforms, as well as ammonia nitrogen, associated with the highest percentage of urbanization and human settlements. Our findings demonstrate the impact of changes of land use on water quality of rivers running through cloud forests in tropical zones, which are currently endangered ecosystems.
AB - Worldwide, it is acknowledged that changes of land use influence water quality; however, in tropical forests, the relationship between land use and water quality is still poorly understood. This study assessed spatial and seasonal variations in water quality, and the relationship between water quality and changes of land use in the Bobos-Nautla River, whose upper course runs across a patch of a tropical cloud forest. Spatial and seasonal variations in water quality and land use were assessed with multivariate tools. A cluster analysis, as well as a Principal Component Analysis (PCA-3D), identified three groups of sites: (1) an upper portion, which showed the best water quality and the broadest natural vegetation coverage; (2) a middle course, with high nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations associated with extensive agricultural uses; and (3) a lower course, characterized by the highest levels of total and fecal coliforms, as well as ammonia nitrogen, associated with the highest percentage of urbanization and human settlements. Our findings demonstrate the impact of changes of land use on water quality of rivers running through cloud forests in tropical zones, which are currently endangered ecosystems.
KW - Cloud forest
KW - Landscape
KW - Multivariate analysis
KW - Natural protected area
KW - Principal component analysis in 3D
KW - WQI
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85055722006&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.3390/w10111518
DO - 10.3390/w10111518
M3 - Artículo
SN - 2073-4441
VL - 10
JO - Water (Switzerland)
JF - Water (Switzerland)
IS - 11
M1 - 1518
ER -