ABSTRACT
The wetland is of international importance, hosting many migratory birds and being a nursery ground for a number of fish species. The research involved a combination of primary data collection, secondary data acquisition, multivariate analyses, and numerical modelling to explore the characteristics of the wetland system in terms of hydrological conditions, hydrodynamic patterns, biotic communities, chemical and ecological processes, and fish-habitat suitability. The maximum discharge entering from the Nuevo River into the wetland system showed considerable variations depending on the hydrological conditions. By using numerical models to assess the wetland functioning over a much longer time span than the brief measurement campaigns, a better understanding of the main ecological processes governing primary production was obtained for the system. Several recommendations can be made to further improve the understanding of the wetland and develop appropriate management scenarios by collecting additional field measurements and enhancing the mathematical modelling.
