Index for Assessing Water Trophic Status in Semi-Enclosed Cuban Bays. Case Study: Cienfuegos Bay

摘要

This paper aims at contributing to the coastal environmental management bydeveloping a new trophic status index of the water (TSIW). The index istailored to semi-enclosed bays with estuarine characteristic like theCienfuegos bay in Cuba. We also propose pressure indicators related toexporting and assimilation capacities as a tool to assess the vulnerability ofthe system to eutrophication. The TSIW is based on response indicators toeutrophication processes showing correspondence with the predefined pressureindicators and previous reports on water quality. Thus, the proposed trophicstatus index is a reliable scientific tool to measure the current stage of thewater quality and to establish a baseline for further studies.