Species Composition of Benthic Macroinvertebrate and Water Evaluation at the Baekyeok Stream in Korea

Abstract

This study was conducted to investigate water quality evaluation using benthic macroinvertebrates at a mountain torrential river (Baekyeok Stream in South Korea). All individuals collected from the protocols of the USEPA Rapid Bioassessment Protocol III (RBP III) for benthic macroinvertebrates. In total, 841 individuals belonging to 37 species of 27 families were collected from the Baekyeok Stream. Arthropoda exhibited greatest species diversity with 26 species identified, followed by Mollusca (5 species) and Annelida (5 species). Platyhelminthes accounted for only one family for four seasons within the four studied areas. Total ecological score of benthic macroinvertebrate community (TESB) was varied from 79 (upper region, St. A) to 56 (low region, St. D) with a mean of 70.8. Benthic macroinvertebrate index (BMI) was varied from 47.130 (St. D) to 62.354 (St. A) with a mean of 53.158. Classification of saprobity based on Shannon-Weaver s diversity (H ) was varied from 2.189 to 2.802 with a mean of 2.723. Thus, water quality evaluation was β -mesosaprobic at all stations according to saprobic value. In conclusion, the water quality scores of upper region at Baekyeok Stream was slightly better than those of low region. Judging only the distribution of benthic macroinvertebrates, the water quality of Baekyeok Stream was not so good.