Use of multiple indicators to assess the environmental quality of urbanized aquatic surroundings in San Luis, Argentina

Abstract

Urbanization can cause significant changes in the integrity of fluvial ecosystems, which makes it necessary to assess environmental conditions of areas where population growth rates are high. A study of the environmental quality of Chorrillos River (San Luis-Argentina) and its tributaries was carried out in order to evaluate the potential effect of an urbanization gradient. Six sites were sampled along the main course and tributaries of the river. Urbanization variables were measured and included to calculate an Urbanization Index. Physical–chemical analyses were performed in water samples to evaluate water quality through the use of a simplified index of water quality (SIWQ). Plants, macroinvertebrates, and amphibians metrics were used to assess the biological state of the studied sites. The Urbanization Index varied significantly between sites and was significantly correlated to the SIWQ. However, no significant correlations were found between SIWQ and macroinvertebrates and amphibians variables. Water quality of Chorrillos River and its tributaries is good, but it is affected by anthropic influences as reflected by the declining of SIWQ values. Although biological sampling constitutes an important tool in the assessment of water quality of rivers, in this report biological results were not conclusive.

Assessment of the environmental quality of two urbanized lotic systems using multiple indicators

“…The values found in PR riparian zones (17–61%, average 43%) were higher than other wetlands areas of Argentina (Kalesnik, Cagnoni, Bertolini, Quintana, & Madanes, ; Kalesnik & Malvárez, ; Márquez & Dalmasso, ). The same pattern was found in riparian habitats of Chorrillos River (Calderón et al, ). Plant cover did not have a clear pattern related to urbanization/water quality.…”

“…The improvement in physical–chemical quality of water, observed towards points QS3 and QS4 (and also evident from BISLS values), may be explained by the increase in the velocity of the stream, the dissolved oxygen, and the self‐purification capacity of the stream (Oliva González et al, ). A further improvement of water quality has been observed in sites downstream of Q4, before it is impacted by Juana Koslay City (Calderón, González, Moglia, González, & Jofré, ).…”

“…Previously, Agüero, Moglia, and Jofré () documented L. mystacinus and R. arenarum in urban permanent and temporary water bodies in urban parks and temporary puddles in San Luis City. Vocalization activity of L. mystacinus , H. pulchellus , R. arenarum , and O. americanus was documented in tributaries (Las Chacras Stream and Cuchi Corral Stream) and the main channel of Chorrillos River but no significant correlations between urbanization and amphibian richness and relative abundance were detected (Calderón et al, ). A similar pattern was found in our study, with no significant differences found in the intensity of vocalizations between sites.…”

Bioindicators assessing water quality and environmental impacts of water treatment plant sludge

“…Traditionally, the assessment of these environmental impacts is accomplished by measuring chemical and physical variables (CONAMA, 2005;Fonseca et al, 2014;WHO, 1996). However, many authors (Beneberu et al, 2014;Bere and Tundisi, 2012;Calderon et al, 2014;Rinaldi, 2007) state that the use of biological responses as environmental degradation indicators are more advantageous compared to chemical and physical parameters since these non-biological measurements only represent a snapshot of the moment they were collected. This means a large number of samples to evaluate temporal variation are required.…”

Desarrollo larval de anfibios anuros en un río impactado por urbanización: efecto de factores ambientales

“…Algunos estudios previos en la región central de San Luis, Argentina, han indagado sobre la abundancia y riqueza de anuros en ambientes perturbados por urbanización. Calderón et al (2014) determinaron la presencia de cinco especies de anuros en el río Chorrillos, que se encuentra impactado por la urbanización de la ciudad capital de San Luis, pero no encontraron relaciones significativas entre abundancia y riqueza de anuros adultos y el impacto urbano. En cuerpos de agua urbanos de la ciudad de San Luis, se registró la abundancia y riqueza de anuros adultos y la abundancia de larvas, la que fluctuó durante el período de reproducción, pero no se evidenció una relación significativa con variables ambientales (Agüero et al, 2010).…”