A wetland condition assessment to consider ecological relationships of a Maya cultural keystone species within the Lake Atitlan, Guatemala littoral zone

Abstract

Abstract Littoral wetland plant species such as Typha domingensis and Schoenoplectus californicus (both locally called tul) in Lake Atitlan provide diverse ecosystem services (ES). These ES include removal of pollutants, oxygenation, and raw material for handicrafts. Human communities, most of whom are Indigenous Maya, actively steward littoral wetlands informed by their traditional ecological knowledge (TEK). Our goal was to assess the wetland condition in four Maya Tz'utujil communities (Santiago Atitlan, San Pedro, San Juan and San Pablo La Laguna), each with different Indigenous uses and management practices. We used a three-level wetland condition assessment: 1) littoral vegetation extent measured with remote Sentinel-2 and Google Earth photographs, 2) field plant survey to measure vegetation structure and plant diversity, and 3) wetland stressor assessment. Stressors analyzed were land use, non-native macrophyte (Hydrilla verticillata) and lake-level fluctuations. In Santiago, where wetland plant TEK is most intact, remote sensing results showed the highest tul concentrations (81% of the overall 5 ha of S. californicus and 98% of the 5.2 ha for T. domingensis), and the highest structure and diversity indices (first-order Jackknife and Shannon index). San Juan showed higher plant structure (number of stalks, diameter, and cover) than San Pablo and San Pedro. Santiago and San Juan were however, the most vulnerable to water-level reduction. Traditional Tulero practice in Santiago, including planting and cutting tul and removing invasive macrophytes, has sustained these wetlands. Ecological value embedded in Indigenous resource management suggests the need to include these practices in governmental environmental management and policy.