Abstract

WALTEROS-RODRIGUEZ, Jeymmy Milena  and  PAIBA-ALZATE, Jorge Eduardo. PRELIMINARY STUDY OF AQUATIC MACROINVERTEBRATE COMMUNITIES IN THE TORRE CUATRO FOREST RESERVE. Bol. Cient. Mus. Hist. Nat. Univ. Caldas [online]. 2010, vol.14, n.1, pp.137-149. ISSN 0123-3068.

Aquatic macroinvertebrates are among the organisms used in bioindication since they offer many usage advantages, which makes them an ideal tool for monitoring water quality in rivers. Therefore, the objective of this study was to characterize the macroinvertebrate community and to evaluate the potential impacts generated on the water sources in the Torre Cuatro Forest Reserve. This study was carried out on April 11^th and May 7^th 2008 in nine stations located in La Mula stream (E1, E2, E3 and E4) and El Diamante stream (E5 and E6 E7), and on the Chinchina River (E8 and E9). A total of 44 Families belonging to 14 orders of aquatic macroinvertebrates were registered, of which Diptera and Trichoptera were the most diverse. Regarding the BMWP/Col index, it generally reflects a good ecological quality of water in the protected area, just E1, E5 and E7 stations presented an acceptable condition. The vegetation in the captive area, the protection of the riverside zone, topographic conditions, among others, are some factors that cause heterogeneity of habitats which favors the high diversity of taxa found and the good conditions of the aquatic ecosystem.

Keywords : Central Andeans; BMWP Index; Chinchina River; Andean lotic systems.

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