Diatomeas epipélicas móviles. Su uso como indicadoras de la calidad del agua en un arroyo contaminado de la Provincia de Buenos Aires (argentina).

M.E. LATTUCA; N.I. MAIDANA

Medio Ambiente

Universidad

Año: 2000 vol. 13 p. 120 - 129

Abstract The aim of this work was to study the influence of the discharge of urban sewage in the Morales stream (Buenos Aires province), comparing the mobile epipelic diatom assemblages in sediments samples collected upstream, in the place of discharge and downstream. Samples were collected and treated following the method indicated in Eaton & Moss (1966) with some modification. Forty six species were identified, most of them are cosmopolitan or with a wide range of distribution. Navicula cryptotenella, N. kotschyi, N. schroeteri and Stauroneis wislowchi are cited for the first time for Buenos Aires. According to the available water quality classifications, most of the species were classified as “more tolerant”, “less tolerant”and “sensitive” to the pollution. Qualitative and cuantitative analysis of diatom assemblages reveal the urban sewage discharge disturbing effect on  the diatom flora and its gradual regeneration that occurs downstream, as well as the advantages of the application of this method in further sampling programs of water quality.