Abstract

A quantification model is proposed to define the water quality in an aquatic ecosystem in the Mediterranean ecoregion of Chile. This allows the overlapping of both quantitative (physicochemical and biological parameters) and qualitative (land use). This will result in water quality indexes representing the elements that make up units of analysis in a Geographic Information Systems (GIS) environment. The following variables were used: electrical conductivity, pH, total dissolved solids, water surface temperature, general diatomic biotic index and family biotic index for benthic macroinvertebrates. All these variables estructures sixs thematic map, while the land while the information on land uses serves to characterize the areas adjacent to the edge of the wetlands. The result is the cartographic visualization using geostatistical methods (interpolation by ordinary kriging and weighted inverse distance), of the combined wetdland water quality, according to the Chilean regulations observed for this purpose. The resulting map is defined by values and/or classes of water quality, which can be interpreted and flexible in terms of their cut-off or limit values. In general, this proposal provides a valuable visual tool that facilitates the understanding of wetland planning, the potential management of adjacent areas and a methodological procedure for water quality monitoring and assesments, which may be appliedcable to other wetlands.