Export of nutrients to the sea in a karstic basin in the west of Cuba

Few studies relate soil water erosion and associated nutrient losses in flat karst landscapes to marine waters. This is due to the complexity of these peculiar ecosystems, given their scarce distribution in the world (20%) and the low erosion rates. Adding that in Cuba these marine waters, where these soils discharge are oligotrophic with a strong historical reduction of their nutrients as a result anthropic-engineering causes; therefore, these are one of their main sources of nutrients. The present research constitutes an approximation of the influence of soil erosion on La Teresa basin, a karstic environment where there are practically no permanent surface streams, to the marine platform of the Batabanó Gulf. The influence of soil erosion and its associated nutrients (0.064 kg ha −1 yr −1 (2.3 t) of P, 1 kg ha −1 yr −1 (35 t) of N) on marine waters coincides with the oligotrophication effect suffered by the island's water bodies reported by Baisre (Biogeochemistry 79:91–108, 2006) and Baisre and Arboleya (Fish Res 81:283–292, 2006) as a result of the damming by agricultural programs.