Limnology and pollution of a small, shallow tropical water-body (jagüey) in North-East Mexico.

Abstract The environmental characteristics and degree of pollution of a jagüey (a small, shallow tropical water-body) in Mexico were identified by means of an environmental impact matrix. Jagüeys are important as their main sources of water are the subsurface water-table and rainfall, however, they have not been studied because of their small size. A flow diagram was designed to incorporate the main climatic, geological and hydrological environmental factors, as well as physico-chemical data on sediment and water qualities, and biological, technostructural and socioeconomic aspects. The resulting index of –90 in the environmental impact matrix indicates a severe negative impact on jagüeys from the input of allochtonous nutrients because of their small depth, limited circulation and the high rate of evaporation. The jagüeys studied appear in a state of hypertrophy and senility, despite geological youth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]