Ecohydrological and multitemporal analysis of Andean wetlands under climate variabilitiy

Bofedales are high-altitude wetlands whose functioning is closely linked to surface water availability, playing a key role in hydrological regulation and ecosystem resilience in the Andes. Despite their importance, spatially explicit information on their surface water dynamics remains limited, particularly in data-scarce mountain regions. This study investigates the ecohydrological dynamics of bofedales in the Alto Pampas sub-basin (Huancavelica, Peru) over the 2015–2024 period using a multitemporal remote sensing approach combined with climatic information. Seasonal patterns of bofedal extent and surface water presence were mapped from Landsat 8 imagery using vegetation and moisture indices (NDVI and NDII), together with topographic variables. Bofedales were identified through a Random Forest classification framework and subsequently categorized as permanent or seasonal based on the temporal persistence of hydric signals. Changes in surface water extent and bofedal productivity were quantified, and temporal trends were assessed using the Mann–Kendall test. In addition, generalized additive models were applied to examine potentially nonlinear relationships between climatic drivers and key ecohydrological indicators. The results reveal contrasting surface water trajectories among bofedales, reflecting heterogeneous sensitivity to climate variability within the sub-basin. These findings demonstrate the value of satellite-based monitoring for assessing surface water dynamics in high-Andean wetlands and provide relevant insights for water resources management and climate change adaptation in data-poor mountainous regions.