Abstract
Peatlands are a transitional environment between terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems that provide essential hydrological, ecological, and biogeochemical. Peatlands have been recognized as important environmental matrices in the storage of organic carbon and water. However, little is known in the literature about the influence of peatlands on the quality of surface water. Therefore, this study aims to evaluate the water quality from peatlands in the spring of the Rio Campo Belo, in Itatiaia National Park, Itatiaia-Brazil. The spring water quality from peat profiles was based on the determinations of the temperature, dissolved oxygen (DO), electrical conductivity, pH, turbidity, dissolved organic carbon (DOC), total organic carbon (TOC), silica, ions, and trace elements (Al, Sb, As, Cd, Co, Cu, Cr, Sn, Fe, Mn, Mo, Ni, V, Ga, Rb, Sr, and Zn) on spring water and peat core samples. The highest DO values observed in the spring waters that leachate water and may be related to the lower water temperature, as well as the movement of water. The DOC values were relatively low suggesting no difference between the spring water and the water leached (1.6 and 1.7 mg l-1, respectively). Higher values of ions and trace elements in the leaching water from core peat demonstrate a greater contribution of the peatland to the concentration of these ions in spring water. An increase in TOC peatland did not cause an increase in pH, however, the removal of organic matter promoted an increase in pH.
Effects of Multiple Use on Water Quality of High-Mountain Watersheds: Bacteriological Investigations of Mountain Streams
