Limnology and pollution of a small, shallow tropical water-body (jagüey) in North-East Mexico

The environmental characteristics and degree of pollution of a jagüey (a small, shallow tropical water‐body) in Mexico were identified by means of an environmental impact matrix. Jagüeys are important as their main sources of water are the subsurface water‐table and rainfall, however, they have not been studied because of their small size. A flow diagram was designed to incorporate the main climatic, geological and hydrological environmental factors, as well as physico‐chemical data on sediment and water qualities, and biological, technostructural and socioeconomic aspects. The resulting index of –90 in the environmental impact matrix indicates a severe negative impact on jagüeys from the input of allochtonous nutrients because of their small depth, limited circulation and the high rate of evaporation. The jagüeys studied appear in a state of hypertrophy and senility, despite geological youth.