Abstract

BERNAL, ELEONORA; GARCIA, DUBERNEY; NOVOA, MIGUEL A  and  PINZON, ATTICUS. Characterization of the Macroinvertebrate Community of Paloblanco Gulch, Otun River Basin. Acta biol.Colomb. [online]. 2006, vol.11, n.2, pp.45-59. ISSN 0120-548X.

A research on the macroinvertebrate community was made in the Paloblanco gulch, located in the Otun River basin, (Risaralda, Colombia). Two sample points were selected, the headwaters and the mouth’s closer zone in the Otun River and both presented first order river geomorphology characteristics. The functional units (litter, stone, moss and gravel) were collected and conjunctly with derive and general fauna samples (not including discrimination in the functional units) were taken at each point. 42 Insecta families were founded, also Acari, Annelida, Crustacea and Hirudinea. Equally, exclusive families were found in each point, showing a difference in the community composition. The ecological indexes were employed to show high diversity in the low point and differences among some functional groups, related with the environment and the present habits. Furthermore, the continuum concept and zonation application in the Paloblanco gulch were analyzed. Despite that sample points are first order, small scale variations were found between them which are related to the antropic intervention in the low point surrounding zone.

Keywords : macroinvertebrates; Paloblanco gulch; drift; continuum; Colombia.

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