Prevalencia de familias de macroinvertebrados como bioindicadores de calidad del agua en dos ecosistemas del Ecuador Continental.

Abstract

The interest in the prevalence of species in a wide range of distribution has generated scientific interest in relating ecological and physico-chemical variables in the macroinvertebrates assessment. This work was aimed to evaluate the prevalence of macroinvertebrates families as bioindicators of water quality in two fluvial ecosystems such as Chimborazo River in Sierra region and Payamino River in Amazon region. The methodology was developed in two phases: the methodology was developed in 2 phases: the first is based on the analysis of data collected in the field in order to determine ICA (Quality Assessment Index) and biological ABI (Andean Biotic Index), in the second phase, a statistical analysis of the prevalence of the species in different geographical distribution was established. Species that have a wide geographic distribution should be considered as indicator species of poor water quality and factors that go together with the persistence of macroinvertebrates sensitive to environmental variations were determined in our research. In Payamino River, it was determined that 4 species from the following families were extended (Neucoridea, Lethoplebelidae, Tabanhidae, Psephenidae), while in Chimborazo river, it was determined that 12 species from the following families were extended (Tipulidae, Hidrobisidae, Glossomatidae, Polycentropodidae, Blepharocerodae, Leptoceriadae, Limonidae, Simulidae, Hidrobisidae, Tubificidae, Musidae, Sharidae) with a high value of ABI (Andean Biotic Index) and BMWP (Biological Monitoring Working Party), but very sensitive to variations of ICA (Quality Assessment Index). It is concluded that species with high ecological value described in the ABI/BMWP must be considered on the basis of water quality ICA and their correlation to lack of these species.