Abstract

ROMANELLI, Asunción  and  MASSONE, Héctor Enrique. Enviromental Indicators and Quality Index Development in Pampean Shalow Lakes (Argentina) under Anthropogenic Impact. Tecnol. cienc. agua [online]. 2016, vol.7, n.6, pp.123-137. ISSN 2007-2422.

This contribution presents a procedure for sustainability assessment in inland waters, based on a series of indicators and Índices that reflect environmental quality. Three dimensions of environmental quality are taken into account: functions, interactions and components. Functions are considered from the "ecocentric" (naturalness) and "anthropocentric" (source of resources, sink for wastes, support of activities and provider of services) points of view. Human-environment interactions are represented by means of pressure, state and response indicators. Environmental components include water, biota, soil, land use, and social characteristics. Increases or decreases in index values are assumed to indicate trends towards greater or lesser sustainability of existing practices. The methodological framework, indicators and criteria used for the assessment are explained. Results obtained on two shallow lakes of the Pampa region (Argentina) as a case study are presented and discussed.

Keywords : Environmental indicators; environmental quality; inland water bodies; Pampa Argentina.

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