Factores responsables de la eutrofización en ecosistemas lacustres tropicales

Abstract

Lakes are aquatic ecosystems that cover 402 km2 of the earth's surface and their importance lies in the availability of water for human activities. Among the types of lakes, tropical lakes, characterized by temperatures above 20°C, stand out. The particular feature of lakes is the natural aging process caused by the constant deposition of sediments on the bottom, as a result of eutrophication caused by high nutrient concentration, shallow depth, scarce vegetation cover, runoff and geological characteristics, thus becoming a terrestrial ecosystem, a natural process that takes thousands of years. Anthropogenic activity has accelerated the aging of lake ecosystems mainly due to eutrophication, generally mediated by the use of agricultural fertilizers, industrial waste discharged into the water body, nitrogen released into the atmosphere from the burning of fossil fuels, etc. The trophic level of a lake can be determined by various assessment methods such as the Trophic State Index (TSI), among others. Eutrophication in lake ecosystems unbalances the habitat of species, bringing with it catastrophic consequences for all organisms active in the lake trophic chain, and for human health.