Original paper
Seasonal variations in the physical and chemical characteristics of a shallow water ecosystem, the ricefields of Valencia, Spain
Quesada, Antonio; Sánchez-Maeso, Eva; Fernández-Valiente, Eduardo
Archiv für Hydrobiologie Volume 132 Number 4 (1995), p. 495 - 511
19 references
published: Mar 10, 1995
DOI: 10.1127/archiv-hydrobiol/132/1995/495
ArtNo. ESP141013204006, Price: 29.00 €
Abstract
A study was made of the physical and chemical features of the ricefields from "La Albufera" (East Spain) with a view to improving the understanding of this complex ecosystem. The results show the association of the measured variables in 3 factors: water mineralization, biological (photosynthetically) related variables, and the nutritional factor, including P and N concentrations. Water mineralization variables were the most descriptive for each type of system. Calcium concentration can discriminate groups of water qualities in this system. Mineralization variables increased through the crop. On the other hand the biological factor showed a very close relationship with photon flux density variation along the crop; dissolved O2 and pH decreased, but CO2 increased. The nutritional factor indicated elevated mean values for nutrients (N and P), but did not show a unique pattern of variation, indicating the strong influence of agricultural fertilization on the physicochemical features.
Keywords
mineralization • nutritional factor • fertilization • agricultural • ricefields • La Albufera • Spain