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El Ceibo Stream under the microscope: Impact of human activity on an aquatic ecosystem
Organization(s):Colegio de la Mesopotamia
Country:Argentina
Student(s):Valentina Sosa, Catalina García Carletti, Mateo Luna, Irupé Cornaló, Jazmín Navoni, Agustín Bejariel Arévalo, Emilia Matharán, Emilia Carabelli.
Grade Level:Secondary School (grades 9-12, ages 14-18)
GLOBE Member(s):María Fernanda Kielmanowicz
Contributors:Omar Peña – Soil Engineer (Pedologist) and Master of Science in Soils
Nicolás Del Valle – Agricultural Engineer.
Verónica Turchet – Bachelor’s degree in Food Science and Chemistry Teacher.
Ana Prieto - Biology Teacher, Master’s Degree in Teaching of Exact and Natural Sciences with a specialization in Biology, Mentor Trainer, and Representative for Latin America and the Caribbean of the Technology Working Group.
Andrea Ventoso - GLOBE Country Coordinator, Uruguay and Mentor Trainer for the Atmosphere and Hydrosphere protocols.
Claudia Caro - Biologist and professor at the National Agrarian University La Molina (UNALM) in Peru.
Report Type(s):Virtual Science Symposium Report
Protocols:Air Temperature, Clouds, Surface Temperature, Land Cover Classification, Freshwater Macroinvertebrates, pH, Water Transparency, Water Temperature, Soil Characterization, Soil Fertility, Soil pH
Presentation Video:
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Presentation Poster:
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Language(s):English
Date Submitted:2026-01-24
This research arose from a critical analysis of a previous project developed by another educational institution which, in our view, lacked scientifically supported data. This motivated us to deepen the study of El Ceibo Stream, whose source is located in a rural area of the Victoria Department, Entre Ríos Province (Argentina), and which partially borders the urban area of the city of Victoria along its course.
The general objective was to characterize water quality and analyze how it varies along the stream’s course. To this end, a bibliographic review was conducted on El Ceibo Stream and similar studies, together with training in several GLOBE Hydrosphere protocols. The limited availability of specific information on El Ceibo Stream gives particular relevance to this study.
Using different GLOBE protocols, field observations, and laboratory analyses, the current condition of the stream was assessed along a section of its course. Macroinvertebrate diversity was analyzed in different habitats, considering their value as bioindicators of water quality through biotic indices.
The results indicate that El Ceibo Stream presents biochemical modifications and variations in macroinvertebrate composition along the studied section, especially in the area where it enters the urban zone, where anthropogenic influence becomes more evident. Although further training is still needed, this research allowed us to gain experience in macroinvertebrate identification and to strengthen our understanding of the impact of human activities on aquatic ecosystems.
Keywords: eutrophication, water quality, BOD, nitrates, GLOBE Protocols.