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Andean lakes : endangered by natural and anthropogenic threats

Campero, Melina ; Balseiro, Esteban ; Fernández, Carla E. ; Modenutti, Beatriz ; Prado, Pablo E. LU orcid ; Rivera-Rondon, Carlos A. ; Carvajal-Vallejos, Fernando M. ; Herrera-Martínez, Yimy ; López-Paría, D. Mabel and Aranguren-Riaño, Nelson , et al. (2025) In Inland Waters
Abstract

The Andes mountains extend north–south in a latitudinal gradient of 8500 km. Because of the great climatic variety and the peculiar north–south orographic distribution, lakes are highly diverse, including different lake origins and contrasting morphometries. We reviewed >700 ecological studies on Andean lakes to identify the main threats to these freshwater systems. The most important threats are UV radiation, changes in water balance, and eutrophication, all 3 interacting with climate change, alien species introductions, and mining. UV radiation is an important factor in Andean lakes not only because of the altitude but also because many lakes are included in the Antarctic ozone hole. The introduction of alien species, particularly... (More)

The Andes mountains extend north–south in a latitudinal gradient of 8500 km. Because of the great climatic variety and the peculiar north–south orographic distribution, lakes are highly diverse, including different lake origins and contrasting morphometries. We reviewed >700 ecological studies on Andean lakes to identify the main threats to these freshwater systems. The most important threats are UV radiation, changes in water balance, and eutrophication, all 3 interacting with climate change, alien species introductions, and mining. UV radiation is an important factor in Andean lakes not only because of the altitude but also because many lakes are included in the Antarctic ozone hole. The introduction of alien species, particularly exotic salmonids, also had detrimental effects, affecting native fish populations and behaviour and endemic species by disrupting the indigenous food web. Eutrophication and browning caused by human activities, including land use interacting with climate change, are increasing in Andean lakes, causing a decrease in water quality. Finally, mining can cause water contamination (both groundwater and surface water) by chemicals emitted from mining processes, thus producing a loss of biodiversity. Although an important number of Andean lakes have been declared as Ramsar sites because of their uniqueness and their extreme conditions, they are subject to significant human impacts. Here, for the first time, we identify these impacts all along the Andes; however, further studies at different scales are mandatory if we hope to understand, conserve, and manage Andean lakes.

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organization
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type
Contribution to journal
publication status
in press
subject
keywords
Andean lakes, eutrophication, species invasion, ultraviolet radiation, water balance
in
Inland Waters
publisher
Taylor & Francis
external identifiers
  • scopus:85214388907
ISSN
2044-2041
DOI
10.1080/20442041.2024.2395157
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
596e364c-d313-4f57-89af-e8a4b4ca9c3f
date added to LUP
2025-03-19 10:13:27
date last changed
2025-05-14 15:10:41
@article{596e364c-d313-4f57-89af-e8a4b4ca9c3f,
  abstract     = {{<p>The Andes mountains extend north–south in a latitudinal gradient of 8500 km. Because of the great climatic variety and the peculiar north–south orographic distribution, lakes are highly diverse, including different lake origins and contrasting morphometries. We reviewed &gt;700 ecological studies on Andean lakes to identify the main threats to these freshwater systems. The most important threats are UV radiation, changes in water balance, and eutrophication, all 3 interacting with climate change, alien species introductions, and mining. UV radiation is an important factor in Andean lakes not only because of the altitude but also because many lakes are included in the Antarctic ozone hole. The introduction of alien species, particularly exotic salmonids, also had detrimental effects, affecting native fish populations and behaviour and endemic species by disrupting the indigenous food web. Eutrophication and browning caused by human activities, including land use interacting with climate change, are increasing in Andean lakes, causing a decrease in water quality. Finally, mining can cause water contamination (both groundwater and surface water) by chemicals emitted from mining processes, thus producing a loss of biodiversity. Although an important number of Andean lakes have been declared as Ramsar sites because of their uniqueness and their extreme conditions, they are subject to significant human impacts. Here, for the first time, we identify these impacts all along the Andes; however, further studies at different scales are mandatory if we hope to understand, conserve, and manage Andean lakes.</p>}},
  author       = {{Campero, Melina and Balseiro, Esteban and Fernández, Carla E. and Modenutti, Beatriz and Prado, Pablo E. and Rivera-Rondon, Carlos A. and Carvajal-Vallejos, Fernando M. and Herrera-Martínez, Yimy and López-Paría, D. Mabel and Aranguren-Riaño, Nelson and Samanez, Iris and De los Ríos-Escalante, Patricio R. and Steinitz-Kannan, Miriam}},
  issn         = {{2044-2041}},
  keywords     = {{Andean lakes; eutrophication; species invasion; ultraviolet radiation; water balance}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  publisher    = {{Taylor & Francis}},
  series       = {{Inland Waters}},
  title        = {{Andean lakes : endangered by natural and anthropogenic threats}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/20442041.2024.2395157}},
  doi          = {{10.1080/20442041.2024.2395157}},
  year         = {{2025}},
}