Evaluation of Water Quality by Benthic Macroinvertebrate at the Jukjeon Stream in Korea

Abstract

This work was studied to investigate the water quality of the Jukjeon stream in Korea based on benthic macroinvertebrates. Several ecological score of benthic macroinvertebrate community were used in the estimation of stream from each of the three stations of the sub-watersheds. During the study periods, the results showed a total of 619 individual benthic macroinvertebrates were collected, including 23 families and 44 species. The first dominant species was Culicini sp. and second was Baetis fuscatus. Ecological score of benthic macroinvertebrate community (ESB) was varied from 61 (St. D) to 71 (St. A) with a mean of 66.5. Water quality at the Jukjeon Stream was grade I. The values of benthic macroinvertebrate index (BMI) at St. A and St. B were 60.4 and 53.4, respectively. Water quality at the two stations was grade C (moderate) on the based BMI. The values of BMI at St. C and St. D were 45.5 and 39.6, respectively. Water quality at the two stations was grade D (bad). The Shannon diversity index (H') of diversity was varied from 3.76 (St. A) to 4.18 (St. B) with a mean of 4.05. The rank percentages of species based on individual abundance (RI) were 4.84 (St. A), 5.66 (St. B), 6.31 (St. C), and 5.97 (St. D). Evenness indices (J) were varied from 0.79 (St. C) to 0.84 (St. B). The values of EPT (Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera and Tricoptera) at St. A, St. B, St. C, and St. D were 0.56, 0.48, 0.29, and 0.17 with a mean of 0.37, respectively. The EPT group accounted for 37% of the total species and 53% of the total individuals. The diversity and richness indices were lower in St. A than in the other stations. In this study, rapid assessment of water quality by macroinvertebrate indicators involves effort and reduced cost in natural stream evaluation.