Abstract
Estuaries are coastal wetlands that deserve special attention because they are vulnerable, biodiversity- and service-rich environments. However, estuaries of tropical areas have been scarcely studied regarding water quality and biodiversity in spite of strong developments of their agricultural and livestock sectors. Two estuaries on the Pacific Nicaragua in which snapper cages had been set up were studied regarding water physicochemical properties, microalgae and cyanobacteria along with their dynamics over a hydrological year. Both environments showed excellent water quality (oligotrophy and absence of harmful organisms) arising from their fluvial features. During the rainy season, there was a decline in chemical compounds and microorganisms. In the dry period nutrients and salinity promoted different assemblages of microscopic primary producers that were never too dense. Nutrient inputs from shrimp farms, agricultural crops and snapper cages did not appear to increase eutrophication and cyanobacterial blooms did not occur. Furthermore, the strong fluvial character of these estuaries seems to prevent the entry of harmful dinoflagellates from marine areas.
Highlights
The ecological and service value of wetlands, especially coastal wetlands, is recognized
Coastal processes affect estuary waters, toxic tidal events can end up damaging the biota of the estuaries [8] and, more recently, the over-exploitation of coastal fish with a market value, such as the spotted rose snapper (Lutjanus guttatus), endangers the symbiosis of fishing communities linked to the estuaries
The concentrations of nutrients obtained in the rainy season are much lower than those analyzed during the dry period; this indicates that the rains exert a dilution effect greater than a possible N contribution by runoff
Summary
The ecological and service value of wetlands, especially coastal wetlands, is recognized. A paradigmatic example is the scarcity of information concerning the estuaries of Central America These wetland areas have a high level of biodiversity; they help to control the coastlines in the face of rising sea levels, and their fish and bivalves, etc. Coastal processes affect estuary waters, toxic tidal events can end up damaging the biota of the estuaries [8] and, more recently, the over-exploitation of coastal fish with a market value, such as the spotted rose snapper (Lutjanus guttatus), endangers the symbiosis of fishing communities linked to the estuaries These issues should be viewed as a One Health concern [9]
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