Water quality monitoring in the Paul do Boquilobo Biosphere Reserve

The Paul do Boquilobo is an important wetland ecosystem classified by Unesco as a MAB Biosphere reserve also awarded Ramsar site status, representing one of the most important habitats for the resident nesting colony of Cattle Egret (Bulbucus ibis). Yet owing to its location, it suffers from human i...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Physics and chemistry of the earth. Parts A/B/C 2016-08, Vol.94, p.180-187
Main Authors: Baptista, C., Santos, L.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Biosphere
Biosphere reserve
Ecosystems
Environmental monitoring
Macroivertebrates
Parameters
Reserves
Surface water
Water quality
Wetlands
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Summary:The Paul do Boquilobo is an important wetland ecosystem classified by Unesco as a MAB Biosphere reserve also awarded Ramsar site status, representing one of the most important habitats for the resident nesting colony of Cattle Egret (Bulbucus ibis). Yet owing to its location, it suffers from human induced impacts which include industrial and domestic effluent discharges as well as agricultural land use which have negatively impacted water quality. The current study reports the results obtained from the introductory monitoring programme of surface water quality in the Nature Reserve to emphasize the detrimental impact of the anthropogenic activities in the water quality of such an important ecosystem. The study involved physicochemical and biotic variables, microbial parameters and biological indicators. Results after 3 years of monitoring bring to evidence a poor water quality further impaired by seasonal patterns. Statistical analysis of data attributed water quality variation to 3 main parameters – pH, dissolved oxygen and nitrates, indicating heavy contamination loads from both organic and agricultural sources. Seasonality plays a role in water flow and climatic conditions, where sampling sites presented variable water quality data, suggesting a depurative function of the wetland. •Paul do Boquilobo marsh is a classified nature reserve, Ramsar site and Biosphere reserve.•Water quality parameters indicate heavy organic pollution.•Chemical parameters such as BOD and COD are above legal values particularly in site 5.•Macroinvertebrates bring to evidence chironomid families indicating poor water quality.•Statistical analysis identifies DO and pH as driving variables.
ISSN:1474-7065
1873-5193
DOI:10.1016/j.pce.2015.11.008