Ecohydrogeochemical functioning of coastal freshwater herbaceous wetlands in the Protected Natural Area, Ciénaga del Fuerte (American tropics): Spatiotemporal behaviour

Abstract

Coastal zones are characterized by the interactions between continents and oceans and, therefore, between fresh and salt surface and groundwater. The wetlands of coastal zones represent transitional ecosystems that are affected by these conditions, although little is known about the hydrogeochemistry of wetlands, especially coastal wetlands. In the present study, the hydrogeochemical characterization of coastal freshwater herbaceous wetlands in the Ciénaga del Fuerte Protected Natural Area in Veracruz, Mexico, in the American tropics was carried out per plant community. Four herbaceous wetlands (alligator flag, saw grass, cattail, and floodplain pasture) were monitored to understand the origin of the water feeding these ecosystems, the hydrogeochemical composition of groundwater, and the relationship between the groundwater and ecology of these ecosystems during dry and rainy seasons. The results indicate that Ciénaga del Fuerte is located in a regional discharge area and receives local recharge, so it is fed by both regional and local flows. The chemical composition varied temporally and spatially, creating unique conditions that determined the habitat occupied by the hydrophytic vegetation. The spatiotemporal behaviour of groundwater is one factor that, along with the hydroperiod, determines wetland dynamics and affects wetland biota (ecohydrogeochemistry). Generalist plant communities established in zones of local recharge, whereas other more specialized and/or plastic communities inhabited zones receiving regional flows with greater ion concentrations. This information forms the basis for establishing an appropriate scale (municipal, state, or larger regions) for the sustainable management of goods and services provided by the wetlands.

Ecological and hydrological considerations for climber weed control in freshwater forested wetland restoration project on the Gulf of Mexico

“…Wetlands are the main ecosystem on the CFNPA landscape, which has mangroves, and herbaceous and forested freshwater wetlands (Figure 1). Thalia geniculata and Typha domingensis are the most important species in the herbaceous wetlands (Sánchez-Higueredo et al, 2020), while Pachira aquatica is the dominant tree species in the forested freshwater wetlands (Infante Mata et al, 2012). The freshwater wetlands are ooded for about 40% of the year (Infante Mata et al, 2012), with the ood peak occurring in October when the water level rises to around 50 cm above ground level.…”

Ecohydrology of coastal aquifers in humid environments and implications of a drying climate

“…Across coastal catchments, groundwater connects inland watersheds with near‐shore marine environments (Wada et al, 2020). Even in instances where GDEs are not hydraulically connected, groundwater supports connectivity by contributing to the function of discrete habitats across the landscape (Sanchez‐Higueredo et al, 2020).…”

Geofísica para la prospección agrícola y forestal: guía para interpretar imágenes del subsuelo

“…(Bruckshaw, 1941;Jones, 2018). Por otra parte, la geofísica aplicada a la investigación hidrogeológica para determinar los recursos de agua subterránea y su conectividad, generalmente tienen interés a una profundidad no mayor a 250 m (Kelly y Mares, 1993;Sánchez-Higueredo et al, 2020;Senos Matias, Marques da Silva, Ferreira y Ramalho, 1994). Sin embargo, la prospección geofísica aplicada a las ciencias agrícolas y forestales varía drásticamente en escala con respecto a la profundidad de interés de la investigación.…”