Delimitation of the Coastal Transition Zone in the Gulf of Guayaquil, Ecuador

Abstract

See, stats, and : https : / / www. researchgate. net/ publication/ 277772751 Delimitation the , Ecuador Article DOI : 10 . 5539 / jgg . v4n3p81 CITATION 1 READS 42 3 , including : Some : Promoting " Euro - Mediterranean " View Vitrification Jordan Universidad 193 , 465 SEE All . The . Abstract The article presents a methodology for the delimitation of the coastal transition zone (CTZ) and the identification of zones with distinct soil properties in the Gulf of Guayaquil (GG) , Ecuador . The Gulf was chosen as study area for its urban , economic and ecological potential , more in particular for its rich marine and agricultural resources , and biodiversity . Soil physical and chemical methods , such as soil salinity indices , physical and chemical parameters , coupled with multivariate analysis enabled the delimitation of the CTZ and the grouping of the studied soil transets in three clusters with distinct properties , located in the GG from the limit of the mangrove swamp . Whereas the average conductance in the swamp area is around 27 . 17 mS cm - 1 , inland to the isoline called the coastal transit zone soil salinity on average is 4 mS cm - 1 . The coastal transition zone has an average width of 4 . 2 km , which can be characterized by three clusters . Clusters 1 and 2 show similarities in their physical and chemical soil parameters , clearly different from the soil properties of cluster 3 . The characteristics of each cluster is related to its location within the study area .