Water quality assessment in the Mexican Caribbean: Impacts on the coastal ecosystem

Laura M. Hernández-Terrones, Kimberly A. Null, Daniela Ortega-Camacho, Adina Paytan

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

77 Scopus citations

Abstract

Coastal zones are dominated by economically important ecosystems, and excessive urban, industrial, agricultural, and tourism activities can lead to rapid degradation of those habitats and resources. Groundwater in the Eastern Yucatan Peninsula coastal aquifer discharges directly into the coastal ocean affecting the coral reefs, which are part of the Mesoamerican Coral Reef System. The composition and impacts of groundwater were studied at different coastal environments around Akumal (SE Yucatan Peninsula). Radium isotopes and salinity were used to quantify fresh groundwater and recirculated seawater contributions to the coastal zone. Excess Ra distribution suggests spatially variable discharge rates of submarine groundwater. High NO3- levels and high coliform bacteria densities indicate that groundwater is polluted at some sites. Dissolved phosphorous content is elevated in the winter and during the high tourism season, likely released from untreated sewage discharge and from aquifer sediments under reducing conditions.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)62-72
Number of pages11
JournalContinental Shelf Research
Volume102
DOIs
StatePublished - 1 Jul 2015
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Coastal
  • Estuary
  • Lagoon
  • Nutrient
  • Pollution
  • Water quality

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Oceanography
  • Aquatic Science
  • Geology

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