Bolivian Altiplano streams with low richness of macroinvertebrates and large diel fluctuations in temperature and dissolved oxygen

Abstract

We sampled benthic macroinvertebrates and recorded oxygen and temperature regime during 2-day periods in 12 stream sites at an altitude of 3,800–4,000 m a.s.l. on the Bolivian Altiplano, during low flow conditions at the end of the dry season. Eight of the sites were relatively unpolluted, while the remaining four sites were affected by domestic/industrial sewage. Compared to other Andean streams, the fauna was poor with a total of 28 and a mean of 11 taxa (mostly families) in the unpolluted sites. The entire EPT group was represented by just five families. Of these, only Baetidae and Hydroptilidae were common. At all sites, the dominant taxa were found among just four taxa (Elmidae, Chironomidae, Oligocheata and Hyallelidae). Mean water temperature was 12.9°C, while mean diel amplitude was 13.4°C and the maximum range 17.4°C. Ten richness and biotic indices were used to analyse for effects of temperature and oxygen on the fauna. Most measures of fauna richness were negatively correlated with mean and max temperature (even excluding the four polluted sites), while biotic indices were mostly uncorrelated with temperature. Thus, the large fluctuations in temperature seemed to exclude taxa, thereby reducing overall diversity of Altiplano streams. Oxygen saturation also varied considerably, with a mean diel range of 48% and a maximum range of 93%. Richness measures were uncorrelated with oxygen %, while all biotic indices were positively correlated with either mean or min oxygen %. Most measures of faunal composition showed a marked shift at levels of 10–30% min oxygen saturation. Earlier studies of high Andean streams in Ecuador have shown a major shift in faunal composition at 50–60% oxygen saturation. The fauna in the Altiplano streams may be adapted to the large fluctuations in oxygen saturation, and therefore more robust towards low oxygen saturations. The implications for biotic assessment of Altiplano streams are discussed.