Nutrient load analysis of Lago de Yojoa, Honduras

Abstract

Lake Yojoa, Honduras is an important natural resource to the people of Honduras. The lake's water quality has been a controversial subject. This thesis describes a nutrient load analysis performed to gain a better understanding of the water quality. Loads were calculated for point sources, non-point sources, and other sources. These loads were applied to a trophic model to determine the lake's trophic status. The results of this study seem to point out that much about tropical limnology is unknown. Lake Yojoa appears to be a mesotrophic lake with nitrogen as the limiting nutrient. However, further field evaluation of the limiting nutrient and nutrient loadings is recommended in order to provide information for better management of the lake.