Effects of Land Use in the Hydrology of Montane Catchments in Central-eastern Mexico

摘要: The La Antigua river upper watershed (1,325 km2), located on the eastern slopes of Cofre de Perote-Pico Orizaba volcano (central Veracruz, Mexico), is a region high biodiversity and great hydrological importance. plays key role supplying water to main urban areas, such as capital Veracruz (Xalapa) Coatepec, providing downstream for agricultural purposes local fisheries, among others. tropical montane cloud forest (TMCF) value ecosystem because services it provides. Although many forests in this have been disturbed or converted crops grasslands (112 km2) last 30 years, effects these changes at catchment scale are still largely unknown, particularly case Mexican TMCF. This chapter addresses knowledge gap by studying three headwater catchments (<50 ha) covered with, respectively, old-growth TMCF, 20-year old regenerating pasture, with following objectives: 1) evaluate TMCF disturbance its conversion emphasis annual seasonal distribution streamflow (baseflow stormflow), 2) determine land use stream-suspended solids exportation. study period two years (2005–2007) during which continuous rainfall data were collected. results showed higher stormflow (run-off produced rainfall) pasture (4.5 6.2 per cent rainfall, respectively) compared (2.2 cent), most likely combination lower canopy interception reduced soil infiltration. Nevertheless, values observed across different cover types very low (<6 result infiltration capacity volcanic soil. bedrock characteristics underlying appeared be factor controlling their streamflow, baseflow. stream highest concentrations total suspended (10 mg l-1) (3.2 l-1), presumably due surface run-off causing erosion. It concluded that modifies eco-hydrological functioning catchments. However, also suggest 20 natural regeneration Mexico capable producing near-original behaviour.