Caracterización físico-química de ambientes acuáticos permanentes y temporarios del Chaco Oriental

Abstract

Physico-chemical characteristies of 17 strearas and 3 tropical swamps-so called "esteros"- were studied in the provinces of Santa Fe, Chaco and Formosa in the esastern Chaco (Argentine). This study was done in order to gather suitable information about the availability of regional hydric re-sources, to determine the possible utilization and to contribute to the improvement of the landscape management. In the initial stage, samples were analyzed in three different opportunities during the hydrologic cycle, including dry and flooded seasons. The paper describes seasonal variations of the salinity, major ion composition, expressed as the porcentage of equivalent sum of total cations or anions, their geographical distribution and some other features, as the nutrient levels,hardness and aptitude for irrigation. On this basis, a characterization of the differents habitats is given also considering the most distinctive physico-chemical features. Analysis have been made according with the methodology described in Standard Methods (APHA, 1975) and Golterman and Clymo (IBP, 1978). Among the obtained records, the most relevant was the one concerning with the salinization phenomena being frequent in the Salado, Saladito, Saladillo and Palometa streams. In low water periods, they increased the conductivity to 103 uS.cm-1, with the correlative increment in the sodium, chloride and sulfate concentration which determined changes in the ionic typology.Physico-chemical characteristies of 17 strearas and 3 tropical swamps-so called "esteros"- were studied in the provinces of Santa Fe, Chaco and Formosa in the esastern Chaco (Argentine). This study was done in order to gather suitable information about the availability of regional hydric re-sources, to determine the possible utilization and to contribute to the improvement of the landscape management. In the initial stage, samples were analyzed in three different opportunities during the hydrologic cycle, including dry and flooded seasons. The paper describes seasonal variations of the salinity, major ion composition, expressed as the porcentage of equivalent sum of total cations or anions, their geographical distribution and some other features, as the nutrient levels,hardness and aptitude for irrigation. On this basis, a characterization of the differents habitats is given also considering the most distinctive physico-chemical features. Analysis have been made according with the methodology described in Standard Methods (APHA, 1975) and Golterman and Clymo (IBP, 1978). Among the obtained records, the most relevant was the one concerning with the salinization phenomena being frequent in the Salado, Saladito, Saladillo and Palometa streams. In low water periods, they increased the conductivity to 103 uS.cm-1, with the correlative increment in the sodium, chloride and sulfate concentration which determined changes in the ionic typology