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Stream in the Achiguate river basin, Guatemala

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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

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
KH
Dissolved Oxygen

Substrate in nature

Sand
Grey
Pebble/Gravel
Mixed
Stone
Grey
Stone form
Roundish
Silt/Mud
Brown
Leaves
Many
Driftwood
no
Submerged terrestrial vegetation
No

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.

Bibliography

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: