*3.1.2 Mandinga lagoon system (MLS)*

Mandinga lagoon system (MLS) is located between 19°00′ and 19°06′ N and 6°02′ and 96°06′ W. It has a complex morphological conformation constituted by three lagoon bodies; it has an extension of 3250 ha [9]; these. Receives several affluent of other less important rivers [28]. The type of climate in the MLS is Aw2 (w) (i) W "with average rainfall of 1676 mm/year and average evaporation of 1500 mm/ year [28]. The temperature has an interval between 25 and 31°C approximately similar to that of the bottom, according to the geomorphology and the annual climate (rains and drought) (**Figure 1**). This lagoon has a high chlorophyll that represented high primary production (**Table 1**).

## *3.1.3 Alvarado lagoon system (ALS)*

Alvarado lagoon system (ALS) is located in the South Coastal Plain of the Gulf of Mexico, between the coordinates 18°44′00″ and 18°52′15″ of latitude N and 95°44′00″ and 95°57′00″ of longitude W (**Figure 1**). This lagoon system leads to several rivers within the most important is Papaloapan, and it is made up of several internal (7162 ha), the type of climate is subhumid warm (Aw2), with little thermal oscillation. According to INEGI (National Institute of Statistic and Geography) [29], the climate is warm-sub-humid-the wettest of the sub-humidwith rain in summer. The dry season occurs between the months of January to May, the rainy season begins in June and the north winds season which are cold wind masses. In addition, this water body is affected by depressions, tropical storms, and hurricanes. The main river basin is the Papaloapan River, which has a complex system of wetlands and borders on its active agricultural activity. The ALS, is considered the third largest wetland in Mexico (National Commission of Biodiversity) [30, 31], it is also one of the most productive systems of the Gulf of Mexico [32] and a shelter area for the feeding and reproduction of numerous populations of fish and crustaceans [33]. The region where this lagoon is located presents several environmental problems: change in land use such as road construction, landfills, agriculture; also the mangrove felling and modification of the vegetation; the use of biocides (organochlorine, organophosphorus), discharge of urban and industrial waters such as sugar, paper and even urban wastewater from cities upstream, overfishing, among others [34]. Total nitrogen, total phosphorus and ammonium are so high (**Table 1**).

## *3.1.4 Terminos lagoon system (TELS)*

Terminos lagoon system (TELS) is considered the largest coastal estuary in Mexico, it is located at the eastern end of the extensive and complex delta of the Usumacinta River that extends approximately 125 km along the southern coast of the Gulf of Mexico, with an average depth of 3.5 m. The TELS lies between 91°10′ and 92°00′ W longitude and parallels 18°20′and 19°00′ N latitude, in the state of Campeche. Had two marine mouths that communicate it permanently with the Gulf of Mexico [25]. The lagoon receives large volumes of fresh water that vary according to the climatic epochs in a 49,700 km<sup>2</sup> basin. It also receives water from

**7**

*Pollution Issues in Coastal Lagoons in the Gulf of Mexico DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.86537*

**Physicochemical parameters**

**Area**

**Salinity**

**ups** 11–38

18–32

0.3–9

5–71

2.6–123

1–35

0–89

Tampamachoco lagoon system (TLS)

Mandinga lagoon system (TLS)

Alvarado lagoon system

Terminos lagoon system (TELS)

Yucateco lagoon, Tabasco state

Mecoacan lagoon, Tabasco state

**Table 1.**

*Physicochemical composition.*

1–14

24–30

3–5

29.41

0.5–33

21–35

0.5–8

7–228

3–138

0.5–31

5–14

0.4–4

0.5–18

28–34

26–32

3–10

2–30 inorg.

8–32 0.3–34

25–31

10–18

36–429

17–41

15–25 4–26

0.1–7

0.4–6

28–33

4–6

5–17

5–10

2–10

0.2–2

10–52

22–49

3–20

jul-28

7–21

**°C**

**mg/L**

**μM**

**μM**

**μM**

**μM**

**mg/m3**

2–14

**Temperature**

**Dissolved oxygen**

**Total nitrogen**

**Total phosphorus**

**Ammonium**

**Orthophosphates**

**Chlorophyll "a"**


*Pollution Issues in Coastal Lagoons in the Gulf of Mexico DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.86537*

*Lagoon Environments around the World - A Scientific Perspective*

influence (**Table 1**).

*3.1.2 Mandinga lagoon system (MLS)*

*3.1.3 Alvarado lagoon system (ALS)*

represented high primary production (**Table 1**).

rainiest. Is a shallow system with an average depth of one-meter, high turbidity [25] and only discharges to the south the river called Tuxpan near the marine mouth, through which it communicates with the Gulf of Mexico [26, 27]. Total nitrogen and total phosphorus are high, which represent the anthropogenic

Mandinga lagoon system (MLS) is located between 19°00′ and 19°06′ N and 6°02′ and 96°06′ W. It has a complex morphological conformation constituted by three lagoon bodies; it has an extension of 3250 ha [9]; these. Receives several affluent of other less important rivers [28]. The type of climate in the MLS is Aw2 (w) (i) W "with average rainfall of 1676 mm/year and average evaporation of 1500 mm/ year [28]. The temperature has an interval between 25 and 31°C approximately similar to that of the bottom, according to the geomorphology and the annual climate (rains and drought) (**Figure 1**). This lagoon has a high chlorophyll that

Alvarado lagoon system (ALS) is located in the South Coastal Plain of the Gulf of Mexico, between the coordinates 18°44′00″ and 18°52′15″ of latitude N and 95°44′00″ and 95°57′00″ of longitude W (**Figure 1**). This lagoon system leads to several rivers within the most important is Papaloapan, and it is made up of several internal (7162 ha), the type of climate is subhumid warm (Aw2), with little thermal oscillation. According to INEGI (National Institute of Statistic and Geography) [29], the climate is warm-sub-humid-the wettest of the sub-humidwith rain in summer. The dry season occurs between the months of January to May, the rainy season begins in June and the north winds season which are cold wind masses. In addition, this water body is affected by depressions, tropical storms, and hurricanes. The main river basin is the Papaloapan River, which has a complex system of wetlands and borders on its active agricultural activity. The ALS, is considered the third largest wetland in Mexico (National Commission of Biodiversity) [30, 31], it is also one of the most productive systems of the Gulf of Mexico [32] and a shelter area for the feeding and reproduction of numerous populations of fish and crustaceans [33]. The region where this lagoon is located presents several environmental problems: change in land use such as road construction, landfills, agriculture; also the mangrove felling and modification of the vegetation; the use of biocides (organochlorine, organophosphorus), discharge of urban and industrial waters such as sugar, paper and even urban wastewater from cities upstream, overfishing, among others [34]. Total nitrogen, total phosphorus and ammonium

Terminos lagoon system (TELS) is considered the largest coastal estuary in Mexico, it is located at the eastern end of the extensive and complex delta of the Usumacinta River that extends approximately 125 km along the southern coast of the Gulf of Mexico, with an average depth of 3.5 m. The TELS lies between 91°10′ and 92°00′ W longitude and parallels 18°20′and 19°00′ N latitude, in the state of Campeche. Had two marine mouths that communicate it permanently with the Gulf of Mexico [25]. The lagoon receives large volumes of fresh water that vary

basin. It also receives water from

**6**

are so high (**Table 1**).

*3.1.4 Terminos lagoon system (TELS)*

according to the climatic epochs in a 49,700 km<sup>2</sup>

**Table 1.** *Physicochemical composition.* the Yucatan Peninsula, the lowlands of Tabasco and the highlands of Chiapas and Guatemala [35]. Three main rivers discharge their waters to the lagoon. The type of climate is warm sub-humid Amw [36] isothermal, with a rainy season from June to October, Northwinds from November to March and a dry season from April to June. It is influenced by extraordinary natural processes such as northerly and tropical storms and hurricanes [37]. The margins of the lagoon are covered by mangroves with a predominance of *Rhizophora mangle*, *Avicennia germinans* and *Laguncularia racemosa* [38, 39] and the seagrass *Thalassia testudinum* (**Figure 1**). Total nitrogen and ammonium are high (**Table 1**).
