Estudio de las condiciones ambientales en la zona Intermareal de la Reserva Ecológica Manglares Churute durante la época seca y húmeda.

Abstract

Physicochemical parameters of water and sediment in the estuaries of the Manglares Churute Ecological Reserve were determined during the dry (2014) and wet (2015) seasons. The objectives were to evaluate water and sediment quality against the Unified Text of Secondary Environmental Legislation (TULSMA) standards for the preservation of flora and fauna in estuarine waters, to analyze results temporally (comparing climatic seasons), and to gain an overview of their status. Exploratory multivariate analysis (FA/PCA, >0.70) and the non-parametric Mann-Whitney U test revealed significant differences (p<0.05) between seasons for all parameters, with the exception of ammonia in water, sulfide, phosphate, nitrite, and organic matter. Levels of dissolved oxygen, oxygen saturation, conductivity, ammonia in sediment, and total solids were higher during the dry season, whereas temperature, water pH, and sediment pH were higher during the wet season. These variations may result from coastal oceanographic processes. Ammonia levels in water exceeded TULSMA limits during both seasons. Significant differences were observed between the two seasons regarding various water and sediment quality parameters. The wet season exhibited adverse water and sediment quality conditions.