Land use and eutrophication in the Humedal El Yali (33º49´S, 71º23´W), Comuna de Santo Domingo

Abstract

The Yali Wetlands is one of the more important wetlands complexes of central Chile. Its high diversity has motivated its inclusion on the list of wetlands of international importance of the Ramsar Convention (1971). In several qualitative surveys carried out in different lagoons great blooms of micro and macro webs and the existence of anoxic sediments in its margins were observed, both evidence of high nutrient concentrations. In the face of this fact we decided evaluate the lagoons nutrient concentration and identificate its origin. The lagoons Matanza, Colejuda, Cabildo, El Rey y Seca were in eutrofic condition. The nutrients concentration detected in the five lagoons evaluated were statistically associated to the land use. We discus the need of preserving the natural flora and to restore the native vegetation of the margins to restore the valuable normal wetland condition of the area, in order to preserve adequately its important flora and fauna.