Development of Bioassessment Tools for Ecological Status Using Macrozoobenthic Community in Upstream Area (Case Study: Citarum River, West Java, Indonesia)

Nurul Chazanah,Barti Setiani Muntalif,Priana Sudjono,Fahri Azhari Hasby,Gede Suantika

doi:10.4236/jwarp.2017.97051

Abstract

This research aims to develop an assessment tool of ecological status in the upstream area using macrozoobenthic community and its relationship to the physicochemical parameters of water and sediment, in Citarum River. The number of species and abundance of macrozoobenthos in the dry season was higher compared to rainy season. The predominant family (Pachychilidae, Hydropsychidae, Glossiphonidae, and Chironomidae) obtained in both season was significantly correlated with the physicochemical parameter. Based on the Shannon-Wiener index, diversity in upstream area of Citarum River during the dry season (1.68) was similar with the rainy season (1.80) and it showed that the diversity of macrozoobenthic community was moderately diverse in both seasons. The physicochemical parameters that strongly related with the presence and abundance of predominant macrozoobenthic taxa were turbidity, total suspended solid (TSS), total nitrogen, total phosphate, gravel particle, and organic carbon. By considering biological and physicochemical parameters obtained from this study, we developed a modified scoring system to assess the ecological status of upstream area in Citarum River. Based on the scoring system, the ecological status was quite polluted in dry season (2.19) and moderately polluted in rainy season (4.94).

Highlights

The river plays an important role in daily human activities such as farming and industry
By considering biological and physicochemical parameters obtained from this study, we developed a modified scoring system to assess the ecological status of upstream area in Citarum River
Water quality and sediment parameters for total suspended solid (TSS) and turbidity concentration were higher in rainy season compared to the dry season

Summary

Introduction

The river plays an important role in daily human activities such as farming and industry. Water quality across Indonesia is deteriorating due to contamination of domestic, industrial, and farming waste [3] This day, water quality assessment is approached by physicochemical and microbiological parameters that have several limitations. Physicochemical parameters only give an insight about the existing condition, while the water is contaminated continuously, physicochemical parameters are still important for water quality assessment [4] [5]. To overcome these limitations, another approach on water quality assessment has been continuously developed for several decades and, most of the studies (around 60%), focused on analysis of macrozoobenthic community [6] [7] [8] [9] [10] [11]

Objectives

Methods

Conclusion