Benthic macroinvertebrates as bioindicators of water quality in an Atlantic forest fragment

Augusto Oliveira,Marcos Callisto

doi:10.1590/s0073-47212010000400003

Augusto Oliveira, Marcos Callisto

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1590/s0073-47212010000400003

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Abstract

The objective of this study was to evaluate benthic macroinvertebrate communities as bioindicators of water quality in five streams located in the "Reserva Particular do Patrimônio Natural" (RPPN) Mata Samuel de Paula and its surroundings, in the municipality of Nova Lima near the city of Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais State, southeastern Brazil. This region has been strongly modified by human activities including mining and urbanization. Samples were collected in the field every three months between August 2004 and November 2005, totaling six samplings in the rainy and dry seasons. This assessment identified one area ecologically altered while the other sampling sites were found to be minimally disturbed systems, with well-preserved ecological conditions. However, according to the Biological Monitoring Work Party (BMWP) and the Average Score Per Taxon (ASPT) indices, all sampling sites had excellent water quality. A total of 14,952 organisms was collected, belonging to 155 taxa (148 Insecta, two Annelida, one Bivalvia, one Decapoda, one Planariidae, one Hydracarina, and one Entognatha). The most abundant benthic groups were Chironomidae (47.9%), Simuliidae (12.3%), Bivalvia (7.5%), Decapoda (6.1%), Oligochaeta (5.2%), Polycentropodidae (3.7%), Hydropsychidae (2.5%), Calamoceratidae (1.8%), Ceratopogonidae (1.7%), and Libellulidae (1.2%). The assessment of the benthic functional feeding groups showed that 34% of the macroinvertebrates were collector-gatherers, 29% predators, 24% collector-filterers, 8% shredders, and 5% scrapers. The RPPN Mata Samuel de Paula comprises diversified freshwater habitats that are of great importance for the conservation of many benthic taxa that are intolerant to organic pollution.

Highlights

IntroductionMacroinvertebrados bentônicos como bioindicadores de qualidade de água em um fragmento de Mata Atlântica
A small part of the original extension of this biome is still preserved in Brazil, and is protected in small conservation units that are usually located on private properties, and termed Reserva Particular do Patrimônio Natural (RPPN)
The conservation of the Brazilian freshwater ecosystems and their biodiversity depends in part on the establishment of conservation units that encompass entire hydrographic basins, and that are based on studies of their ecological and biological conditions (PAZ et al, 2008)

Summary

Introduction

Macroinvertebrados bentônicos como bioindicadores de qualidade de água em um fragmento de Mata Atlântica. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar as comunidades de macroinvertebrados bentônicos como bioindicadoras de qualidade de água em cinco riachos localizados na Reserva Particular do Patrimônio Natural (RPPN) Mata Samuel de Paula, no município de Nova Lima, próximo à cidade de Belo Horizonte, estado de Minas Gerais, sudeste do Brasil. A RPPN Mata Samuel de Paula protege hábitats aquáticos diversificados de grande importância para a conservação de muitos táxons de macroinvertebrados bentônicos que são intolerants à poluição. River degradation can threaten the existence of many species before they are even described, because aquatic ecosystems are most affected by human activities (SAUNDERS et al, 2002). Clearance of riparian vegetation is one of the degrading factors that affect aquatic ecosystems in the Atlantic forest. Knowledge about the health status of aquatic ecosystems and the value of the potential services that they can provide to humans allows optimal and sustainable use of the available resources (CONSTANZA et al, 1997)

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