INVESTIGADORES
OCON Carolina Silvia
artículos
Título:
In situ tests for water quality assessment: a case study in Pampean rivers
Autor/es:
GRAÇA, M.; A. RODRIGUES CAPÍTULO; C. OCON; N. GÓMEZ
Revista:
WATER RESEARCH
Editorial:
Elsevier
Referencias:
Año: 2002 vol. 36 p. 4033 - 4040
ISSN:
0043-1354
Resumen:
Two invertebrate species (Hyalella curvispina and Palaemonetes argentinus) and one macrophyte (Egeria densa) from a naturally high nutrient content system (Pampean rivers of La Plata, Argentina) were evaluated for their potential use in situ assays aiming to assess changes in water quality. Invertebrates were individually placed in cylindrical chambers in polluted sections of rivers and in reference upstream sites. Mortality after 48 h was high in polluted and reduced in control sites. Mortality was also higher in situ assays than in laboratory static tests. Standard sections of the macrophyte were also deployed at the reference and control sites. Growth (7 days) in terms of mass increment (but not in length) was consistently reduced in polluted sites. Results of benthic invertebrate and periphitic algae surveys were consistent with the in situ tests: pollution resulted in a decrease in the number of taxa, taxa replacement and in changes in the value of the biotic indices Indice Biotico PAMPeano and Indice de Diatomeas Pampeano, indicating deterioration of water quality. In situ assays have a high potential as environmental tools in integrated approaches of bioassessment programs.