Influence of Land Use and Land Cover on the Quality of Surface Waters and Natural Wetlands in the Miranda River Watershed, Brazilian Pantanal

A watershed-wide analysis of the Miranda River Basin (MRB) in Brazil's Pantanal reveals that natural wetlands significantly enhance water quality by reducing thermotolerant coliforms and turbidity, while also storing, removing, and cycling nutrients. Despite this, the study found concerning trends, including increasing biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) levels and decreasing dissolved oxygen, which could impact water quality over time. The Water Quality Index (WQI) was rated as GOOD or EXCELLENT throughout the MRB, suggesting that sub-basin-specific management policies could be effective for long-term conservation strategies. This research underscores the critical role of wetlands in maintaining ecological balance and provides a foundation for targeted environmental protection efforts.

Carvalho, W. d. S., Filho, F. J. C. M., Rodrigues, L. R., & Calheiros, C. S. C. (2024). Influence of Land Use and Land Cover on the Quality of Surface Waters and Natural Wetlands in the Miranda River Watershed, Brazilian Pantanal. Applied Sciences, 14(13), 5666. https://doi.org/10.3390/app14135666