Environmental studies highlight wetland pollution and invasive species management

Research from the Instituto Cavanilles de Biodiversidad y Biología Evolutiva (ICBiBE) at the University of Valencia warns that nutrient pollution is blocking the ecological recovery of the Albufera wetland in Spain. The study indicates that simply increasing water flow without drastically reducing pollutants at their source may not clean the lake, but could instead increase the total mass of contamination. Monitoring conducted between 2023 and 2024 shows that while water volume has reached minimum historical thresholds for basic ecological functions, nitrogen loads have risen significantly compared to previous years.

In Argentina, researchers from the Universidad Nacional de La Plata have identified a potential strategy to combat invasive clam species, Corbicula fluminea and Corbicula largillierti, in the Pampean region. The study suggests that extreme variations in water levels and flow can limit the development of these Asian species. Managing water flows in artificial freshwater systems, such as those used for industrial cooling or power generation, could serve as a tool to protect local ecosystems and infrastructure from the habitat modifications caused by these invasive organisms.