Dynamics of discharge, sediment transport, heavy metal pollution and Sábalo (Prochilodus lineatus) catches in the lower Pilcomayo river (Bolivia)

Abstract

AbstractThe Pilcomayo river is one of the few intact natural river systems left on the South American continent. The high, largely natural, sediment loads of the river have led to the development of an alluvial fan system, which is still active. The river is currently retracting due to siltation of its bed, and in the near future the river is likely to abruptly change its course. There is a large difference in discharge between the wet and dry seasons. Pollution of the transported sediments by heavy metals from the mining district of Potosí is largely prevented by dilution of the toxic mining sludges with clean sediments derived from natural erosion processes. The Sábalo (Prochilodus lineatus) is a migrating fish which is very important for commercial fishing. The Sábalo grows up in the floodplains in the lower reaches of the river and starts its upstream migration at the end of the rainy season to spawn in the Andean foothill at the beginning of the next rainy season. Pollution does not seem to affect fish catches. Sábalo catches in a given year, however, do appear to depend strongly on the mean discharge in the three preceding years. Annual discharge is strongly influenced by the El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) phenomenon. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.