Evaluación biológica de macroinvertebrados bentónicos, como indicadores de la calidad de agua, en la ribera de bosque andino en la zona de amortiguamiento del Parque Nacional Sangay

Abstract

This research aims to determine the relationship of the macroinvertebrate population with the different riparian coverages using biological indices of water quality. This will be carried out in the eastern foothills of Chimborazo province at the buffer area of Sangay National Park. The study area corresponds to 20.92 hectares. We worked in two phases: field and laboratory. The first phase involved monitoring the main contributor of the Cachipata River micro-watershed. The specimen was collected using a D-net 32 cm wide and 22 cm deep with a mesh size of 500 μm. The samples were placed in an artisanal sieve made of fine nylon cloth in the laboratory phase. The residue was deposited in a white tray for the identification of macroinvertebrates. The results show a predominant forest cover of 12.41 ha. The biological quality of the water, at the points Rodeo Creek (P1QR) and Santa Rosa (P2SR), indicates an acceptable quality. While at the points Tabalbo (P3T) and Timbul (P4TB), the quality is doubtful. At the monitoring points 13 orders, 31 families, with a total of 827 individuals were identified. The order Ephemeroptera, family Baetidae presented 112 individuals. The average diversity of 0. 48, the maximum value corresponding to point P3T with 0.61 with an average value; while Simpson's index shows that at point P2SR there is a maximum value of 0.98 and an average of 0.97. This leads to a high index. There is a similarity in the groups P1QR-P4TB and P2SR-P4TB while between P3T-P4TB there is a dissimilarity. Point P3SR indicates contamination. In general, the correlation indicates a similarity of the macroinvertebrate population between the initial monitoring point P1QR and the final point P4TB.