Abstract

ANGUIANO-CUEVASA, J. Refugio et al. Evaluation of trophic state in the Palo Verde estuary (Colima, México), action to regulating agricultural activities. RGCI [online]. 2015, vol.15, n.4, pp.507-522. ISSN 1646-8872.  https://doi.org/10.5894/rgci507.

The agricultural zones subjected to fertilizer use and inland runoff of nutrients leads to accelerated eutrophication with negative effects on coastal ecosystems and therefore significant negative economic impacts. The Palo Verde estuary (PVE) is a shallow estuary (0.4-1.5 m depth) located in the lower area of the sub-basin of the Armería River, in Colima, México. The PVE forms a temporary connection with the sea during unusual extreme meteorological events, but it is otherwise isolated. Freshwater inputs are restricted to discharges from nonpoint sources, such as agricultural runoff, torrential streams, and sea-sonal input from the Armería River. Farming is practiced along the boundaries of the PVE and involves an area of ~34.36 km² such that the estuary is under considerable anthropogenic pressure. The PVE has been recognized as a RAMSAR site (no. 1985), due to the biological, ecological, and socio-economic importance, but the estuary has been the focus of very few environmental studies, and there is a need to demonstrate, quantify and predict the effects of human activities on these interrelated components in space and time. We describe subsidies to agricultural sector the agricultural and activities within the drainage basin through stakeholder’s engagement, also assessing the trophic status of the estuary with a trophic state multivariate index (TRIX) and proposing different ecosystem-based management (EBM). Actions intended to improve and control the use of agrochemicals (fertilizers N and P) in order to preserve ecosystem services.

Keywords : Palo Verde Estuary; Eutrophication; Ecosystem-based Management; Agrochemicals.

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