Spatial and temporal heterogeneity of physical and chemical variables for an endorheic, shallow water body: Lake Pàtzcuaro, Mexico fig: 3 tab: 2

Abstract

Homogeneity of water quality in a shallow endorheic lake in Mexico, Lake Patzcuaro, was studied through the analysis of 13 physical and chemical variables at 10 sampling stations monthly between January 1998 and January 1999. Principal components analysis associated most temporal and spatial variance with two variables: total residue and conductance. Spatial analysis discriminated between limnetic and littoral areas, and among shallow stations. Temporal analysis segregated four time intervals: cold/dry, warm/dry, rainy, and highest rainfall. Even though Lake Patzcuaro is a continuous warm polymictic lake, our results show its environmental heterogeneity; the lake is a physical and chemical mosaic.