bin

Las Torres stream, Noel Kempff Mercado, Bolivia

Sponsored by
Bring your aquarium into the 21st century with our integrated aquarium controller

Bolivia, Plurinational State of, Santa Cruz

Riparian forest, swamp forest, and seasonally inundated savanna in the lower areas, with deciduous forest (cerradão) and rocky outcroppings on the slopes. Two clear water streams flow from the adjacent serranía. Trails with access to the Huanchaca plateau (Serranía Negra). Site near to Río Iténez/Guaporé. Closest place with people occurence: Camp of park guards with few facilities on bolivian bank; Vila Neide on brazilian bank.

Submitted by
Kamil Hazy
Approved by
Heiko Blessin & Nathan K. Lujan
GPS
-13.6549997, -60.8116989
Geographical region
South America
Drainage Basin
Amazon basin
River catchment
Water body type
Stream
Water body name
Las Torres
Water body part
Flood plain
Water body course
Lower course
Water body: tributary of
River
Tributary name
Rio Iténez

Videos above and below water

Water Chemistry

Water information

Water type
Fresh water
Water color
Clear water
Water transparency
Medium
Concentration of sediments
Low
Water temperature
24 °C
Water flow/curent
Slow

Chemical parameters

pH
6.7
Conductivity
GH
KH
Dissolved Oxygen

Substrate in nature

Sand
Beige
Pebble/Gravel
Mixed
Stone
Mixed
Stone form
Roundish
Silt/Mud
Leaves
Few
Driftwood
Few
Submerged terrestrial vegetation
Yes

Aquatic Biotope

Date of collecting
09/1998
Collecting area
Shore line
Water depth
0,2m
Air temperature
Sunlight
Partial shade

Environment

Environment
Untouched
Surrounding area

Swamp forest mostly where water from underground springs filters through soils at the base of the escarpment. The most noteworthy structural characteristic of this site is the high density of stems, approximately 30% greater than the average of most moist upland sites. This type of environment mixes with parts of savanna wetlands.

Terrestrial vegetation near biotope:

  • Qualea sp., fam. Vochyseaceae
  • Lacistema aggregatum, fam. Lacistemataceae
  • Mouriri apiranga, fam. Melastomataceae
Underwater landscape

Mix of parts with tree roots, logs and grasslands in open areas. Some roundish rocks appear in stream banks and main channel.

Fishes:

  • Astyanax sp.
  • Bryconops cf. caudomaculatus
  • Bryconops melanurus
  • Hyphessobrycon cf. herbertaxelrodi
  • Hyphessobrycon cf. tukunai
  • Moenkhausia dichroura
  • Moenkhausia lepidura
  • Moenkhausia oligolepis
  • Carnegiella marthae
  • Erythrinus sp.
  • Nannostomus unifasciatus
  • Pyrrhulina brevis
  • Hypopomus sp.
  • Hypopygus lepturus
  • Corydoras hastatus
  • Corydoras sp.
  • Loricaria sp.
  • Aequidens viridis
  • Apistogramma trifasciata
  • Apistogramma inconspicua
  • Crenicichla sp.

Aquatic plants:

  • Azolla caroliniana
  • Azolla filiculoides
  • Azolla microphylla
  • Hymenophyllum hostmannii
  • Salvinia minima
  • Hydrolea spinosa
  • Urticularia foliosa
  • Urticularia tricolor
  • Ludwigia sp.
  • Helanthium (Echinodorus) tenellum
  • Echinodorus bolivianus
  • Echinodorus macrophyllus
  • Sagittaria rhombifolia
  • Pistia stratiotes
  • Lemna sp.
  • Mayaca fluviatilis
  • Eichhornia azurea
  • Eichhornia crassipes
  • Eichhornia diversifolia
  • Xyris aquatica
Threats to ecology

Like everywhere on Earth main threat is human. Exploring of natural resources, cutting trees, planting soy and other crops. Fortunatelly the Bolivian government reacts very good in the area of wetlands, and National Park preserves the natural beauty of the area.

Global problem that affects park is a phenomenon called El Nino. This causes draughts, and therefore creates problems in wetland areas. Also high level of CO2 in atmosphere is predicted to reverse the expansion of tropical rainforests. This process can have impact on vulnerability of rainforests to sustain while draugths.

Riparian zone

Trees near the aquatic habitat
Many -

Bibliography

Sitography

→ Google maps - Vila Neide site

Comment by the expert

Heiko Blessin: Very complete descrition of the biotope parameters. Well done!

Nathan K. Lujan: Little description and/or illustration of the natural underwater aquascape and habitat. Good lists of species and decent references.