Incidencia del cambio y uso de suelo en el ecotono hiporreico de la Cuenca del Machángara: variables físico químicas y macrobiota asociada (macroinvertebrados bentónicos)

Abstract

Land use change is a crucial phenomenon that has transformed landscapes and human communities in recent decades. Areas once covered by natural forests and moors have been replaced by agricultural land and urban areas, significantly impacting the environment and society. A comprehensive study was conducted in the Machángara River basin, analyzing water quality at five points along the river. The results revealed a decline in water quality as water flowed from the moors to the city. Satellite imagery was used to track changes from 2018 to 2023, evidencing urban expansion in Graiman and Ochoa León, and deforestation and conversion to agricultural land in Las Truchas and Ochoa León. These changes are directly related to human activities. The transformation of forested areas into urban or agricultural zones increases the load of pollutants and reduces aquatic biodiversity. The study established significant connections between physicochemical and biological water variables and changes in land use, especially in the populated area of Graiman. The presence of phosphates, suspended solids, and ammonium correlated with lower benthic macroinvertebrate biodiversity and, thus, poor water quality. This highlights the importance of taking adequate measures to protect water quality and maintain the ecological equilibrium in the Machángara River basin.