Physicochemical Assessment and Spatial Analysis of Water Quality in the Rivers of Lar National Park Using a Multivariate Statistical Approach

Mahmoudi, Mina; Abdoli, Asghar; Khorasani, Nematollah

doi:10.22059/ije.2026.407619.1898

Physicochemical Assessment and Spatial Analysis of Water Quality in the Rivers of Lar National Park Using a Multivariate Statistical Approach

Document Type : Research Article

Authors

¹ Department of Natural Resources and Environment, SR. C., Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran

² Department of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Management, Environmental Sciences Research Institute, University of Shahid Beheshti, Tehran, Iran.

³ Department of Environmental Science, Faculty of Natural Resources, University of Tehran, Karaj, Iran

10.22059/ije.2026.407619.1898

Abstract

Objective: This study conducts a comprehensive evaluation of the physicochemical water quality and longitudinal monitoring of rivers in Lar National Park over two consecutive summers (2017 and 2018).
Method: Water samples were collected from 20 stations across 10 rivers and springs. Nine key parameters were measured, including temperature, acidity (pH), dissolved oxygen (DO), biochemical oxygen demand (BOD₅), total nitrogen, total phosphorus, turbidity, electrical conductivity (EC), and total dissolved solids (TDS), along with two derived indices (BOD/DO and N/P ratios). Statistical analyses, including Spearman correlation, hierarchical cluster analysis, and the Kruskal-Wallis test, were performed using R software
Results: Results indicated that overall water quality is favorable (mean BOD₅ ≤ 0/27 mg/L and DO ≥ 7/32 mg/L), with mean electrical conductivity ranging at 345 µS/cm; however, significant longitudinal heterogeneity was observed. Downstream sections, particularly the Siah-Polas River, exhibited intense anthropogenic pressure, with total phosphorus reaching a maximum of 0/59 mg/L at station LNP11 in 2018 and turbidity peaking at 9.2 NTU at station LNP12.
Conclusions: A significant negative correlation was found between elevation and total nitrogen (p=0/004 ,r=0/45). Furthermore, the Kruskal-Wallis test revealed significant spatial differences among upstream, midstream, and downstream groups for total nitrogen (p<0/001) and electrical conductivity (p<0/01), confirming the accumulation of anthropogenic pollutants downstream. These findings underscore the necessity for targeted management based on spatial zoning in Lar National Park.

Keywords

Main Subjects

Water Resources Management in Natural Ecosystems

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