Understanding the Dynamics of a Coastal Lagoon: Drivers, Exchanges, State of the Environment, Consequences and Responses

Abstract

At present, many coastal ecosystems worldwide are highly affected by anthropic activities. La Mancha lagoon, in the state of Veracruz, Mexico, is an important ecosystem due to the wide array of ecosystem services that it provides. In this paper, an analysis of the environmental balances of the lagoon is outlined, using the Drivers, Exchanges, State of the Environment, Consequences and Responses (DESCR) tool. The methodological framework considers the interrelationships between the natural systems and the forces of change that alter the performance of the natural environment, in order to provide an overview of actions that may reduce negative consequences. The study area has been impacted by anthropic development, such as changes in land use for agricultural and livestock activities, loss of mangroves due to logging and modifications, carried out by local fishermen, to the natural hydrodynamics of the lagoon that alter the salinity and affect the ecosystem dynamics. Following analysis of the area, using the DESCR tool, the responses proposed include long-term environmental impact evaluation, with the aim of preserving the local coastal ecosystems.

Biogeochemical responses of a highly polluted tropical coastal lagoon after the passage of a strong hurricane (Hurricane Irma)

“…They are ecologically diverse and provide habitats for many birds, fish and plants; the interactions among the species in estuaries and coastal lagoons produce valuable ecosystem services (Barnes 2001;Harris 2008). At the same time, there are multiple anthropogenic stressors acting on many coastal lagoons, including sewage and organic wastes, derived eutrophication, sea-level rise, and habitat disturbance and loss (Kennish & Paerl 2010;Raji et al 2013;González-De Zayas et al 2013Chacón Abarca et al 2021). The effects of these stressors on coastal lagoons and estuaries can be more destructive when there is a combination of two or more due to the cumulative impacts.…”

Impacts of Extratropical Cyclone Fiona on a sensitive coastal lagoon ecosystem

“…Coastal lagoons lie at the nexus of freshwater and marine environments and support productive, diverse ecosystems (Kennish and Paerl 2010; Barnes et al 2013; González‐De Zayas et al 2021) that provide a range of valuable ecosystem services (Newton et al 2018). However, these critical transitional water bodies are threatened under anthropogenic impacts of invasive species, rising water temperatures, and eutrophication (Tummon Flynn et al 2018; Chacón Abarca et al 2021; González‐De Zayas et al 2021). These aquatic stressors in coastal lagoons can be exacerbated by coastal development and by increasingly common and intense coastal storms (Mulligan et al 2015; González‐De Zayas et al 2021).…”

The suitability of a dynamic coastal lake to support the diadromous fish Galaxias maculatus

“…Globally, coastal lakes and lagoons are biodiversity hotspots because of their shallow morphology, elevated productivity, and position as a conduit between freshwater and marine ecosystems (Basset et al 2007;Kruk et al 2009;Drake et al 2011;Pérez-Ruzafa et al 2011). Their high biodiversity is typically supported by high diversity of habitats created by the natural fluxes of these systems, with cyclical changes owing to the mixing of coastal and land-derived processes leading to dynamic local conditions (Laugier et al 1999; Chac ón Abarca et al 2021). However, this combination also makes coastal lakes and lagoons susceptible to changes from land-based and marine-derived impacts, which affect the functioning of these dynamic systems and potentially make management problematic (Erostate et al 2022).…”