Abstract

MOYA, Nabor; SANTANDER, Mayra  and  FERNANDEZ, Beymar. Ecological quality evaluation of the Quirpinchaca and Cachimayu rivers using macroinvertebrates as contamination bioindicators. Rev. Cien. Tec. In. [online]. 2019, vol.17, n.19, pp.11-22. ISSN 2225-8787.

Abstract Rivers are biodiversity hotspots, but also the most threatened ecosystems by human activities. Particularly Quirpinchaca River that flows through Sucre city center, has suffered serious damage and until now there are no studies with ecological and technical basis to evaluate and restore it. Therefore, this work aims to evaluate the ecological quality from Quirpinchaca River (seven sites) and Cachimayu River (three sites), using aquatic macroinvertebrates as potential bioindicators of contamination supported by physicochemical data. Biotic indices used were BMWP/Bol, relative abundance of intolerant taxa (Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera and Trichoptera) and tolerant taxa (Diptera). As relevant results, the three biotic indices indicate that Quirpinchaca River presents "very critical” quality from the source to the mouth of Cachimayu River, while the Cachimayu River has qualities ranging from "very critical" to "good". The physicochemical parameters that best responded to the contamination were the dissolved oxygen and the chemical oxygen demand, whose values indicate that the Quirpinchaca River presents a greater degree of pollution in the city center than in less populated areas such as the headwaters of the river and the confluence with the Cachimayu River. On the other hand, the Cachimayu River presents better physicochemical conditions than the Quirpinchaca River. We consider that these results could serve as a useful, single and economical tool to monitor spatially and temporally each studied sites and in future management and restoration plans mainly of the Quirpinchaca River, whose goal should include the recovery of richness and abundance of sensitive taxa like the Cachimayu River.

Keywords : Wáter quality; Biotic indices; Quirpinchaca river; Cachimayu river; Aquatic macroinvertebrates; Physicochemical parameters.

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