Indicators of nutrient removal efficiency for riverine wetlands in agricultural landscapes of Argentine Pampas

Abstract Main objectives of this study were (a) to assess wetlands contribution to regulation of surface water quality of riverine wetlands in agricultural landscapes through their nutrient removal efficiency (RE), (b) to understand how RE of wetlands is related to hydrological, morphological, chemical and biological attributes, and (c) to identify RE indicators suitable for remote RE assessment. Macrophytes composition, hydrological, chemical, and morphological properties were estimated for 14 riverine wetlands of the Argentinean Pampas, and related to empirically estimated removal-exportation levels of phosphorus (dissolved and total) and nitrogen (inorganic and total). Nutrient inputs and outputs were assessed in four opportunities, two under baseline and two after storm events. A discriminant function based on remotely assessed wetland attributes was able to discriminate three wetland groups according to their contrasting mean RE for total phosphorus and total nitrogen. Descriptors of wetland size (area, length, perimeter) and vegetation (cover of the tall emergent macrophytes) showed the main weights and hence the main value as indicators for conservation and/or management of wetlands according to their nutrient removal capacities.