Spatial, temporal and functional evaluation of the ecosystem health of high-Andean rivers subjected to anthropic pressures using a holistic protocol for information capture and processing (Rivsec)

Water is a resource that is more scarce and of lower quality due to the anthropic activity that produces the significant deterioration of the health of Lothetic ecosystems. Anthropic activities such as livestock, aquaculture, tourism, etc. have accelerated strongly in the hydrographic basins of the Cuenca. Water resources management should be based on scientific information and a holistic approach to data collection and processing and possible projections for the future. The proposed project is therefore the objective of carrying out the temporal, spatial and functional evaluation of ecosystem (dry) health of the surroundings of the city of Cuenca, subject to various anthropic pressures, using a holistic protocol for capturing and processing information. Thus, it is proposed (i) evaluate the ecosystem process of the decomposition of organic matter (DMO) in relation to anthropic activities; (Ii) relate the ecosystem structure with environmental variables, in different space and temporal scales, to evaluate the dry of the high-Ando rivers studied; And (iii) predict the future spatial distributions of macroinvertebrates as responses to plausible changes of soil use (US) and modeling the relationship between water temperature (Tag) and air temperature (TAIR) for future climate change studies (CC). This project will contribute valuable information that could be incorporated into the sustainable management policies of local/regional water resources.

OUT OF CALL – EXTERNAL FUNDS