DOI:
https://doi.org/10.14483/23448350.23603Published:
10/31/2025Issue:
Vol. 52 No. 2 (2025): May-August 2025Section:
Research ArticlesSeasonal Analysis of Dissolved Organic Carbon in a Tropical Wetland Using UAV Technology
Análisis estacional del carbono orgánico disuelto en un humedal tropical con tecnología UAV
Keywords:
dissolved organic carbon, limnology, unmanned aerial vehicle, tropical wetland, RGB imagery, spectral analysis, multivariate statistical methods (en).Keywords:
carbono orgánico disuelto, limnología, vehículo aéreo no tripulado, humedal tropical, imágenes RGB, análisis espectral, métodos estadísticos no lineales (es).Downloads
Abstract (en)
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) plays a key role in the global carbon cycle and the biogeochemical dynamics of aquatic ecosystems. In this study, an empirical model was applied to imagery from unmanned aerial vehicles, which were acquired during two hydrological periods (low water in February and high water in December), in order to assess the seasonal dynamics of DOC in El Eneal wetland. The Kruskal-Wallis test revealed significant differences (p=0.00015) in the DOC concentrations between periods, confirming the regulatory effect of the water level. Shifts in spectral signatures indicated variations in the molecular composition of DOC, with an increased blue reflectance observed during the high-water period. Reductions of up to 18% in vegetated zones were attributed to dilution, retention, and mineralization processes, whereas unvegetated areas exhibited only a 2% decrease. These findings underscore the influence of the hydrological cycle on DOC dynamics in tropical wetlands.
Abstract (es)
El carbono orgánico disuelto (COD) desempeña un papel fundamental en el ciclo global del carbono y en la dinámica biogeoquímica de los ecosistemas acuáticos. En este estudio se aplicó un modelo empírico a imágenes de vehículos aéreos no tripulados obtenidas en dos periodos hidrológicos (aguas bajas en febrero y altas en diciembre), en aras de evaluar la dinámica estacional del COD en el humedal El Eneal. La prueba de Kruskal- Wallis reveló diferencias significativas (p=0.00015) en las concentraciones de COD entre ambos periodos, confirmando el efecto regulador del nivel hídrico. Los cambios observados en las firmas espectrales sugirieron variaciones en la composición molecular del COD, con mayor reflectancia azul en aguas altas. Las reducciones de hasta 18 % en zonas vegetadas se atribuyeron a procesos de dilución, retención y mineralización, mientras que las áreas sin vegetación mostraron solo un 2 % de disminución. Estos resultados destacan el papel del ciclo hidrológico en la dinámica de los humedales tropicales.
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Copyright (c) 2025 Wilfer David Guzman López, Lina Claudia Giraldo, Fabio Velez Macias, Néstor Aguirre
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