Estuarine environmental monitoring programs: long term studies

Abstract

Monitoring programs are evaluation procedures designed to assess the state and evolution of a system over time. In particular, environmental monitoring programs are those that are applied to assess the condition and quality of an ecosystem (or environmental system of the corresponding level) in a given period. Different types of monitoring programs have opportunely been characterized, which are used in different circumstances and situations. Long-term monitoring programs have numerous advantages, and their results are those that allow us to draw the best conclusions as well as provide the best recommendations to the corresponding decision makers. Historical background of the application of this type of environmental monitoring program in different parts of the world is reviewed. Finally, the application of long-term environmental monitoring within the Bahía Blanca Estuary is analyzed as a particular study case.