Odonata assemblages as indicators of stream condition - A test from northern Argentina.

LEONARDO HORACIO WALANTUS; NOELIA MALENA SCHRÖDER; PEDRO DARIO ZAPATA; CAMILA GISEL RIPPEL; PABLO PESSACQ

NORTH-WESTERN JOURNAL OF ZOOLOGY

UNIV ORADEA PUBL HOUSE

Lugar: Oradea, Rumania; Año: 2020

1584-9074

The increasing consumption of natural resources due to population growth, and the expansion of agricultural activity have a major impact on freshwater ecosystems. The aim of this study was to verify if possible changes in habitat integrity and physical-chemical variables due to different land uses are related to Odonata assemblages. In order to do that, we evaluate the conservation status of the riparian zone and the physicochemical parameters of the water in streams with different degrees of anthropogenic impact, and assessed richness and variation in species composition, testing for potential indicators species of habitat quality. The riparian index allowed the differentiation of three states: conserved, intermediate and degraded. No significant differences were found on species richness between the conservation states, but it was possible to discriminate the communities present. Four species showed potential as indicators of habitat quality that can serve as biomonitors in future strategies of management and conservation of streams.