Los humedales del sureste de Tamaulipas: Un prioritario sistema lacunario ignorado y amenazado

A perspective of the current situation and the deterioration of the complex lacunary system of the Tampico, Madero and Altamira Conurbed Zone, is provided, as well as the causes and effects this has had on local flora and fauna, with emphasis on aquatic birds and mangrove. Degradation and fragmentation are among the main causes of population expansion and rapid population growth, which led to the division and invasion of local gaps, several of them even being considered as “habitat islands”. This can be particularly damaging to the four mangrove species distributed in the region, due to their marginalization in isolated water bodies. Another cause is the contamination, exploitation and filling of wetlands by companies in the area, which has led to several gaps in high levels of heavy metals. This is particularly harmful for aquatic birds, which depend on these sites to carry out their biological cycle, which is why they can be forced to move to other sites or their health can be affected. All of the above highlights the urgency of declaring more protected natural areas in the area, as well as increasing regulations imposed on companies and recruiting trained people to carry out management plans suitable to the current situation.