Evaluación de la calidad del agua en la quebrada condorguayco perteneciente al parque nacional llanganates mediante índices ecológicos de diatomeas epilíticas

Abstract

The Llanganates National Park has been presenting some problems that have jeopardized the water quality of the water bodies in this protected area, specifically focusing on the Condorguayco stream in the Pantzarumi area. One problem that is diagnosed is the performance of recreational activities since the environment and water resources were strongly affected due to the accumulation of solid waste generated by human presence. This research aimed to diagnose the ecological integrity and evaluate the water quality of the Quebrada Condorguayco belonging to the Llanganates National Park. The methodology used in the investigation was of a nonprobabilistic or directed type; the sampling points selected in the Quebrada Condorguayco were for field recognition. The results were obtained through sampling campaigns from December 2021 to May 2022, with which it was possible to identify 40 species of epilithic diatoms, of which six have a relative abundance greater than 5%. Eunotia minor, Nitszchia incospicua, Amphora pediculus, Melosira varians, Cymbella túmida, and Stauroneis acuta, the most representative, in addition to the highest abundance of species according to the Shannon-Wiener diversity index and the Margalef diversity index. They are registered in the IT section. In this context, it is concluded that through the Specific Sensitivity to Pollution (IPS) index, the registered average indicates that the water quality in the entire study area is moderate, being within the range. In this way, certain species of epilithic diatoms could be considered biological indicators of the river's environmental conditions due to their sensitivity and tolerance to environmental factors.