Peri-Pampean Sierras aquatic systems in Tucumán Province

Comparative reservoir limnology in Juramento (Salta) and Salí-Dulce (Tucumán) Basins in Argentina

“…The multiple uses of the reservoirs, the anthropic impacts on the basins, and the lack of management programs have favored an artificial eutrophication resulting in loss of water quality and biodiversity (Salusso, 2005;Tracanna et al, 2014b). As for the hydrological cycle, intense rainfall during floods (summer and fall) decreased phytoplankton biomass, which is typical in Brazilian reservoirs (Tundisi & Matsumura-Tundisi, 2008) as well as increased diversity in rainy seasons and decreased diversity in dry seasons (Souza, 2014).…”

“…In most reservoirs, cyanobacterial growth was induced by a permanent eutrophic condition, favoring scarce transparency and elevation of temperatures, nutrient concentrations (especially nitrogen and phosphorus), pH, alkalinity and water residence time (Salusso & Moraña, 2014a;Tracanna et al, 2014b). Dinophytes competing for nutrients may have been one of the reasons for the lack of cyanobacterial blooms at certain times in the Juramento reservoir (Salusso, 2010), as was the case for the Brazilian reservoirs (Barbosa et al, 2012;Moura & Henry Silva, 2015).…”

“…Although previous isolated studies have been conducted on the reservoirs dating back more than ten years (Tracanna et al, 1991;Tracanna, Seeligman, & Mirande, 1996;Tracanna et al, 1999, 2006, Tracanna, Martínez De Marco, Taboada, Mirande, & Isasmendi, 2014a, Tracanna, Seeligmann, Mirande, Martínez De Marco, & Isasmendi, 2014bSalusso, 2005Salusso, , 2010Salusso & Moraña, 2000, simultaneous studies comparing the reservoirs of both basins have not yet been published. Given that these reservoirs bear considerable economic and ecological importance, this study is aimed at characterizing the water quality in five reservoirs of the two different systems, in order to provide information for their management and monitoring.…”