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

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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.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by a grant of Secretaría de Ciencia y Técnica, Universidad Nacional de Sal Luis to Project 2-0202 “Environmental quality of aquatic ecosystems, physical–chemical and biological indicators.” The authors are deeply thankful to Andrea Fortman for language revision.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Área de Biología, Departamento de Bioquímica y Ciencias Biológicas, Facultad de Química, Bioquímica y Farmacia, Universidad Nacional de San Luis, San Luis, Argentina

    Mirian R. Calderon, Marta Moglia & Mariana Jofré

  2. Área de Química Analítica, Departamento de Química, Facultad de Química, Bioquímica y Farmacia, Universidad Nacional de San Luis, San Luis, Argentina

    Patricia González & Soledad Oliva Gonzáles

  3. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina

    Soledad Oliva Gonzáles

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  1. Mirian R. Calderon
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  2. Patricia González
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  3. Marta Moglia
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  4. Soledad Oliva Gonzáles
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  5. Mariana Jofré
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Correspondence to Mirian R. Calderon.

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Calderon, M.R., González, P., Moglia, M. et al. Use of multiple indicators to assess the environmental quality of urbanized aquatic surroundings in San Luis, Argentina. Environ Monit Assess 186, 4411–4422 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-014-3707-8

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