A new method to evaluate the vulnerability of watersheds facing several stressors: A case study in mediterranean Chile

Simple item page
dc.catalogadoraba
dc.contributor.authorArriagada, Loretto
dc.contributor.authorRojas, Octavio
dc.contributor.authorArumí, José Luis
dc.contributor.authorMunizaga, Juan
dc.contributor.authorRojas Quezada, Carolina Alejandra
dc.contributor.authorFarias, Laura
dc.contributor.authorVega, Claudio
dc.date.accessioned2025-10-14T14:23:14Z
dc.date.available2025-10-14T14:23:14Z
dc.date.issued2019
dc.description.abstractFreshwater systems are subjected to multiple anthropogenic stressors and natural disturbances that act as debilitating agents and modifiers of river systems, causing cumulative and synergistic effects that deteriorate their health and result in watershed vulnerability. This study proposes an easy-to-apply spatial method of watershed vulnerability evaluation using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) in the Andalién River watershed, located in the Chilean mediterranean. A watershed vulnerability index (WVI) based on three sub-indices – anthropogenic stressors, environmental fragility and natural disturbances – was developed. To determine the index grouping weights, expert surveys were carried out using the Delphi method. We subsequently normalized and integrated the factors of each sub-index with relative weights. The ranges of each thematic layer were re-classified to establish vulnerability scores. The watershed was divided into three sections: headwaters zone, transfer zone and depositional zone. The watershed vulnerability index showed that 41% of the watershed had very low vulnerability and 42% had medium vulnerability, while only 1% – in the depositional zone – had high vulnerability. A one-way ANOVA was carried out to analyze the vulnerability differences among the three sections of the watershed; it showed significant differences (F (2, 16) = 8.15: p < 0.05). The a posteriori test showed differences between the headwaters and depositional zones (Tukey test, p = 0.005) and between the transfer and depositional zones (Tukey test, p = 0.014). To validate the WVI, water quality was measured at 16 stations in the watershed; there was a significant correlation between vulnerability level and NO2− levels (r = 0.8; p = 0.87; α = 0.05) and pH (r = 0.8; p = 0.80; α = 0.05). The WVI showed the cumulative effects of multiple stressors in the depositional zone of the watershed. This is the first study to evaluate and validate non-regulated watershed vulnerability with GIS using multiple anthropogenic and natural stressors.
dc.description.funderFONDECYT
dc.fuente.origenORCID
dc.identifier.doi10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.09.237
dc.identifier.issn0048-9697
dc.identifier.scopusidSCOPUS_ID:85054009627
dc.identifier.urihttps://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.09.237
dc.identifier.urihttps://repositorio.uc.cl/handle/11534/106142
dc.identifier.wosidWOS_ID: 000447915400147
dc.information.autorucInstituto de Estudios Urbanos y Territoriales; Rojas Quezada, Carolina Alejandra; 0000-0001-9505-4252; 1085840
dc.language.isoen
dc.pagina.final1533
dc.pagina.inicio1517
dc.revistaScience of the Total Environment
dc.rightsacceso restringido
dc.subjectAnthropogenic stressors
dc.subjectNatural disturbances
dc.subjectEnvironmental fragility
dc.subjectGeographic information system
dc.subjectIntegrated management
dc.subject.ddc710
dc.subject.deweyArquitecturaes_ES
dc.titleA new method to evaluate the vulnerability of watersheds facing several stressors: A case study in mediterranean Chile
dc.typeartículo
dc.volumen651
sipa.codpersvinculados1085840
sipa.trazabilidadORCID;2024-04-15
Files
Collections
Artículos de revistas
I. Estudios Urbanos y Territoriales