A Convergent Approach to Investigate the Environmental Behavior and Importance of a Man-Made Saltwater Wetland

Mediterranean saline wetlands are significant ecological habitats defined by seasonal water availability and various biological communities, forming a unique ecotone that combines traits of both freshwater and marine environments. Moreover, they are regarded as notable natural and economic resources. Since the sustainable management of protected wetlands necessitates a multidisciplinary approach, the purpose of this study is to provide a comprehensive picture of the hydrological, hydrochemical, and ecological dynamics of a man-made groundwater dependent ecosystem (GDE) by combining remote sensing, hydrochemical data, geostatistical tools, and ecological indicators. The study area, called “Le Soglitelle”, is located in the Campania plain (Italy), which is close to the Domitian shoreline, covering a surface of 100 ha. The Normalized Difference Water Index (NDWI), a remote sensing-derived index sensitive to surface water presence, from Sentinel-2 was used to detect changes in the percentage of the wetland inundated area over time. Water samples were collected in four campaigns, and hydrochemical indexes were used to investigate the major hydrochemical seasonal processes occurring in the area. Geostatistical tools, such as principal component analysis (PCA) and independent component analysis (ICA), were used to identify the main hydrochemical processes. Moreover, faunal monitoring using waders was employed as an ecological indicator. Seasonal variation in the inundation area ranged from nearly 0% in summer to over 50% in winter, consistent with the severe climatic oscillations indicated by SPEI values. PCA and ICA explained over 78% of the total hydrochemical variability, confirming that the area’s geochemistry is mainly characterized by the saltwater sourced from the artesian wells that feed the wetland. The concentration of the major ions is regulated by two contrasting processes: evapoconcentration in summer and dilution and water mixing (between canals and ponds water) in winter. Cl−/Br− molar ratio results corroborated this double seasonal trend. The base exchange index highlighted a salinization pathway for the wetland. Bird monitoring exhibited consistency with hydrochemical monitoring, as the seasonal distribution clearly reflects the dual behaviour of this area, which in turn augmented the biodiversity in this GDE. The integration of remote sensing data, multivariate geostatistical analysis, geochemical tools, and faunal indicators represents a novel interdisciplinary framework for assessing GDE seasonal dynamics, offering practical insights for wetland monitoring and management.