Evaluación de la calidad del agua a lo largo de una cuenca heterogénea (Río Grande, Jujuy, Argentina)

GOMEZ, GRACIELA C.; MOLINERI, CARLOS

ECOLOGÍA AUSTRAL

ASOCIACIÓN ARGENTINA DE ECOLOGÍA

Lugar: Buenos Aires; Año: 2021 vol. 32 p. 1 - 9

0327-5477

The aim of this work is to evaluate the ecological quality of waters along an environmentallyheterogeneous basin, using macroinvertebrate biotic indices (BI). Twelve sampling sites were selected inthe Río Grande basin, following an altitudinal gradient across the Puna, Monte and Yungas ecoregions.Sampling was conducted in the dry and rainy seasons, during three consecutive years (2012 to 2014). At eachsite, physico-chemical parameters were measured and benthic macroinvertebrates were collected. Principalcomponent analysis (PCA) was applied to explore environmental variability in terms of physico-chemicalparameters. The water quality of the basin was assessed by means of different biotic indices. Correlationanalyses were performed between the biotic indices and the physicochemical parameters. Altitude, NaCl,total dissolved solids (TDS) and electrical conductivity were higher at the Puna and Monte sites, while riverdischarge, width and depth were higher at the Yungas sites. Biotic indices suggested good water quality. TheBMWP (Biomonitoring Working Party) and family richness were the most suitable indices to simultaneouslycompare the rivers of the different ecoregions. The change in the composition of macroinvertebrate assemblageswas observed at an altitude of 1500 m a. s. l., separating arid and humid zones and coinciding with inflectionpoints of conductivity, NaCl and TDS.[Keywords: biological integrity, aquatic insects, biotic index, river basin, water quality]