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Spatial patterns of water quality in Xingu River Basin (Amazonia) prior to the Belo Monte dam impoundment

Authors :
JL. Rodrigues-Filho
DS. Abe
P. Gatti-Junior
GR. Medeiros
RM. Degani
FP. Blanco
CRL. Faria
L. Campanelli
FS. Soares
CV. Sidagis-Galli
V. Teixeira-Silva
JEM. Tundisi
T. Matsmura-Tundisi
JG. Tundisi
Source :
Brazilian Journal of Biology, Vol 75, Iss 3 suppl 1, Pp 34-46 (2015)
Publication Year :
2015
Publisher :
Instituto Internacional de Ecologia, 2015.

Abstract

Abstract The Xingu River, one of the most important of the Amazon Basin, is characterized by clear and transparent waters that drain a 509.685 km2 watershed with distinct hydrological and ecological conditions and anthropogenic pressures along its course. As in other basins of the Amazon system, studies in the Xingu are scarce. Furthermore, the eminent construction of the Belo Monte for hydropower production, which will alter the environmental conditions in the basin in its lower middle portion, denotes high importance of studies that generate relevant information that may subsidize a more balanced and equitable development in the Amazon region. Thus, the aim of this study was to analyze the water quality in the Xingu River and its tributaries focusing on spatial patterns by the use of multivariate statistical techniques, identifying which water quality parameters were more important for the environmental changes in the watershed. Data sampling were carried out during two complete hydrological cycles in twenty-five sampling stations. The data of twenty seven variables were analyzed by Spearman's correlation coefficients, cluster analysis (CA), and principal component analysis (PCA). The results showed a high auto-correlation between variables (> 0.7). These variables were removed from multivariate analyzes because they provided redundant information about the environment. The CA resulted in the formation of six clusters, which were clearly observed in the PCA and were characterized by different water quality. The statistical results allowed to identify a high spatial variation in the water quality, which were related to specific features of the environment, different uses, influences of anthropogenic activities and geochemical characteristics of the drained basins. It was also demonstrated that most of the sampling stations in the Xingu River basin showed good water quality, due to the absence of local impacts and high power of depuration of the river itself.

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
16784375 and 15196984
Volume :
75
Issue :
3 suppl 1
Database :
Directory of Open Access Journals
Journal :
Brazilian Journal of Biology
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
edsdoj.8c634a988ee24f81928c5e27212e7913
Document Type :
article
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1590/1519-6984.02914bm