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Stream in the Achiguate river basin, Guatemala
Guatemala, Vertiente del Pacífico, Escuintla
The Achiguate river is born on the slope of the Fuego volcano in the departments of Sacatepéquez and Escuintla. It runs in a southerly direction, crossing the coastal plain of Escuintla to empty into the Pacific Ocean.
Within the municipality of Masagua in the department of Escuintla, there are several springs which form small streams that flow into the Achiguate River, these streams are at high risk of contamination by nearby populations, the cultivation of sugar cane, deforestation and the culture of tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus).
These streams are home to Cribroheros longimanus and Amatitlania nigrofasciata (Günther, 1867) among other endemic species to Guatemala. The Achiguate River and streams do not have underwater vegetation.
- Submitted by
- David Rodriguez
- Approved by
- Juan Miguel Artigas Azas & Jairo Arroyave
- GPS
- 14.2088747, -90.8801651
- Geographical region
- Central America
- Drainage Basin
- Cuenca del Achiguate
- River catchment
- Nacimiento del Arroyo
- Water body type
- Creek
- Water body name
- Nameless affluent
- Water body part
- Channel
- Water body course
- Lower course
- Water body: tributary of
- River
- Tributary name
Videos above and below water
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Water Chemistry
Water information
- Water type
- fresh-water
- Water color
- White water
- Water transparency
- Medium
- Concentration of sediments
- Medium
- Water temperature
- 25-27 °C
- Water flow/curent
- Slow
Chemical parameters
- pH
- 7.6
- Conductivity
- GH
- 12 mg/l
- dGH
- KH
- dKH
- Dissolved Oxygen
Substrate in nature
- Sand
- Grey
- Pebble/Gravel
- Mixed
- Stone
- Grey
- Stone form
- Roundish
- Silt/Mud
- Brown
- Leaves
- Many
- Driftwood
- Submerged terrestrial vegetation
Aquatic Biotope
- Date of collecting
- 6.06.2020
- Collecting area
- Flooded area
- Water depth
- 1,0m
- Air temperature
- 30 °C
- Sunlight
- Partial shade
Environment
- Environment
- Affected by human activity
- Affected by human activity
- Deforestation
- Deforestation
- Advanced
- Surrounding area
Muddy soil with abundant humidity, fruit trees planted by the inhabitants, agriculture and livestock nearby. Streams formed by springs, low altitude in some areas and little current and deeper in some places (where you can fish).
- Underwater landscape
The aquatic vegetation is null. There is a lot of litter and mud in some sectors, the gravel is not found in the entire stream, the current is slow and medium.
Fishes:
- Astyanax aeneus
- Vieja guttulata
- Astatheros macracanthus
- Cichlasoma trimaculatum
- Amatitlania nigrofasciata
- Cribroheros longimanus
- Threats to ecology
The Achiguate River is a short coastal river in the southwestern part of Guatemala. It is born in the Sierra Madre, on the slopes of the Fuego volcano in the departments of Sacatepéquez and Escuintla.
It runs in a southerly direction, crossing the coastal plain of Escuintla to empty into the Pacific Ocean.
Comment by the expert
Juan Miguel Artigas Azas: It is a beautiful description of the habitat. There are still not many references but I understand – many times there is just no literature. In any case they are not necessary since the author has firsthand experience in the locality, and the species match those found in the area.
Jairo Arroyave:
