Eutrophication Conditions in Two High Mountain Lakes: The Influence of Climate Conditions and Environmental Pollution

The lakes known as El Sol and La Luna are high mountain water deposits located in Mexico within an inactive volcanic system. These lakes are of ecological importance because they are unique in Mexico. However, currently, the lakes have experienced changes in their shape and an increase in algae bloo...

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Main Authors: Fátima Goretti García-Miranda, Claudia Muro, Yolanda Alvarado, José Luis Expósito-Castillo, Héctor Víctor Cabadas-Báez
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-02-01
Series:Hydrology
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2306-5338/12/2/32
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author Fátima Goretti García-Miranda
Claudia Muro
Yolanda Alvarado
José Luis Expósito-Castillo
Héctor Víctor Cabadas-Báez
author_facet Fátima Goretti García-Miranda
Claudia Muro
Yolanda Alvarado
José Luis Expósito-Castillo
Héctor Víctor Cabadas-Báez
author_sort Fátima Goretti García-Miranda
collection DOAJ
description The lakes known as El Sol and La Luna are high mountain water deposits located in Mexico within an inactive volcanic system. These lakes are of ecological importance because they are unique in Mexico. However, currently, the lakes have experienced changes in their shape and an increase in algae blooms, coupled with the degradation of the basin, which has alerted government entities to the need to address the lakes’ problems. To address the environmental status of El Sol and La Luna, a trophic study was conducted during the period of 2021–2023, including an analysis of the influence of climatic variables, lake water quality, and eutrophication conditions. The trophic state was established based on the eutrophication index. The Pearson correlations defined the eutrophication interrelation between the distinct factors influencing the lakes’ status. El Sol registered higher eutrophication conditions than La Luna. El Sol was identified as seasonal eutrophic and La Luna as transitioning from oligotrophic to mesotrophic, showing high levels of chlorophyll, total phosphorus, and total nitrogen and low water transparency. The principal factors altering the eutrophic conditions were water pollution and climatic variables (precipitation and ambient temperature). Eutrophication was the prime factor impacting perimeter loss at El Sol, whereas at La Luna, it was due to a decline in precipitation.
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spelling doaj-art-5bfa0f47d7be43d5aef3f4104f50d9bf2025-08-20T03:12:05ZengMDPI AGHydrology2306-53382025-02-011223210.3390/hydrology12020032Eutrophication Conditions in Two High Mountain Lakes: The Influence of Climate Conditions and Environmental PollutionFátima Goretti García-Miranda0Claudia Muro1Yolanda Alvarado2José Luis Expósito-Castillo3Héctor Víctor Cabadas-Báez4Tecnológico Nacional de México, Instituto Tecnológico de Toluca, Av. Tecnológico s/n, Colonia Agrícola Bellavista, Metepec 52149, MexicoTecnológico Nacional de México, Instituto Tecnológico de Toluca, Av. Tecnológico s/n, Colonia Agrícola Bellavista, Metepec 52149, MexicoTecnológico Nacional de México, Instituto Tecnológico de Toluca, Av. Tecnológico s/n, Colonia Agrícola Bellavista, Metepec 52149, MexicoInstituto Interamericano de Tecnología y Ciencias del Agua (IITCA), Universidad Autónoma del Estado de México, Carretera Toluca-Atlacomulco km. 14, Toluca, MexicoEscuela Nacional de Conservación, Restauración y Museografía “Manuel del Castillo Negrete” (INAH), Calz. Gral. Anaya 187, San Diego Churubusco, Coyoacán, Ciudad de Mexico 04120, MexicoThe lakes known as El Sol and La Luna are high mountain water deposits located in Mexico within an inactive volcanic system. These lakes are of ecological importance because they are unique in Mexico. However, currently, the lakes have experienced changes in their shape and an increase in algae blooms, coupled with the degradation of the basin, which has alerted government entities to the need to address the lakes’ problems. To address the environmental status of El Sol and La Luna, a trophic study was conducted during the period of 2021–2023, including an analysis of the influence of climatic variables, lake water quality, and eutrophication conditions. The trophic state was established based on the eutrophication index. The Pearson correlations defined the eutrophication interrelation between the distinct factors influencing the lakes’ status. El Sol registered higher eutrophication conditions than La Luna. El Sol was identified as seasonal eutrophic and La Luna as transitioning from oligotrophic to mesotrophic, showing high levels of chlorophyll, total phosphorus, and total nitrogen and low water transparency. The principal factors altering the eutrophic conditions were water pollution and climatic variables (precipitation and ambient temperature). Eutrophication was the prime factor impacting perimeter loss at El Sol, whereas at La Luna, it was due to a decline in precipitation.https://www.mdpi.com/2306-5338/12/2/32eutrophicationhigh mountain lakesclimate variableseutrophic parameterstrophic index
spellingShingle Fátima Goretti García-Miranda
Claudia Muro
Yolanda Alvarado
José Luis Expósito-Castillo
Héctor Víctor Cabadas-Báez
Eutrophication Conditions in Two High Mountain Lakes: The Influence of Climate Conditions and Environmental Pollution
Hydrology
eutrophication
high mountain lakes
climate variables
eutrophic parameters
trophic index
title Eutrophication Conditions in Two High Mountain Lakes: The Influence of Climate Conditions and Environmental Pollution
title_full Eutrophication Conditions in Two High Mountain Lakes: The Influence of Climate Conditions and Environmental Pollution
title_fullStr Eutrophication Conditions in Two High Mountain Lakes: The Influence of Climate Conditions and Environmental Pollution
title_full_unstemmed Eutrophication Conditions in Two High Mountain Lakes: The Influence of Climate Conditions and Environmental Pollution
title_short Eutrophication Conditions in Two High Mountain Lakes: The Influence of Climate Conditions and Environmental Pollution
title_sort eutrophication conditions in two high mountain lakes the influence of climate conditions and environmental pollution
topic eutrophication
high mountain lakes
climate variables
eutrophic parameters
trophic index
url https://www.mdpi.com/2306-5338/12/2/32
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