American Journal of Life Sciences

| Peer-Reviewed |

Use of Benthic Macro Invertebrates as a Biological Indicator in Assessing Water Quality of River Puyo, Puyo, Pastaza, Ecuador

Received: 16 February 2016    Accepted: 24 February 2016    Published: 07 March 2016
Views:       Downloads:

Share This Article

Abstract

There is an increased need for water conservation and protection for the sustainable livelihood of human beings as well as for the goodness of our environment. There is a greater awareness among the researchers, and Government organizations in the conservation of water resources in Central Amazonia region particularly in Ecuador. We have taken water sample from eight different sampling stations in the river Puyo, one of the major tributaries of river Amazon in South America. So far, no work has been carried out on the water quality of river Puyo to understand the biodiversity of macroinvertebrates and use of the same in the water quality assessment. Our final index included five matrices, namely Biotic index, Ephemeroptera,-Plecoptera-Trichopters (EPT) richness as richness measures, EPT and Chironomidae ratio, H’ and evenness (Hmax) to understand the water quality. We have also studied the physico chemical characteristics of water and coliform bacteria to assess the quality of water. All the values obtained reflect the quality of water in the sampling stations 1, 2, 3, 6, and 7, which are in the upstream located in the high altitudes as well as in the forest area, are better than the other three sampling stations 4, 5 and 8, which are located in the downstream in the urban area. In general, all the five sampling stations indicated more or less good water quality while the other three stations (4, 5 and 8) showed deterioration in water quality and thus necessitated a need for mitigation measure to save the Puyo river. The various metric values are (p value is > 0.05).

DOI 10.11648/j.ajls.20160401.11
Published in American Journal of Life Sciences (Volume 4, Issue 1, February 2016)
Page(s) 1-12
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Puyo, Benthic Macroinvertebrates, Biological Indicator, Biotic index, Coliform Bacteria

References
[1] P. S.Giller and B. Malmqvis, The biology of streams and rivers, Oxford University press, 1998.
[2] W. Thuiller, “Biodiversity: Climate change and the ecologist”, Nature, Vol 448, no. 7153, pp550-552, 2007.
[3] L.Kaufman, “Catastrophic change in species-rich freshwater ecosystems: the lessonsd of lake Victoria” Bio science, vol. 42, pp. 846-858, 1992.
[4] D. M. Rosenberg, and V. H. Resh. Introduction to freshwater biomonitoring and benthic macroinvertebrates. In: -Osemberg, R M and Resh, V. H. (Eds): Freshwater Biomonitoring and Benthic Macroinvertebrates. Chapman and Hall, New York pp1-9, 1993.
[5] H. B. N. Hynes, The use of invertebrates as indicators of river pollution. Proceedings of the Linnean Society of New South Wales London 170: 165. 169. In: D. M. Rosenberg, V. H. Resh (eds). Fresh-water Biomonitoring and Benthic Macroinvertebrates. London: Chap-man & Hall, 1957.
[6] M. Sanz, S. M. Puente Garcia, E. R. Rebolled and P. Prado, Macro-invertebrates richness Importance in Coastal Tropical Streams of Esmeraldas(Ecuador)and its use and Implications in environmental Management Procedures, International Journal of Ecology, -Vol. 2014, Article ID 253134, 11 pages, 2014.
[7] J. V. Ward and J. A. Stanford, The serial discontinuity concept of lotic ecosystem in Fontaine, T. D and Bartell, S. M, Ecology of River system. Dr. W. Junk publishers, Dor-drecht. The Netherlands. pp. 29-42, 1983.
[8] J. E. Brittain, and S. J. Saltveit, A review of the effect of river regulation on Mayflies (Ephemeroptera) regulated rivers. Research and Management 3: 191. 204, 1989.
[9] V. H. Resh, and Jackson, J. K. Rapid assessment approaches in benthic macroinvertebrates bio-monitoring studies. Page. 195-233 in: D. M Rosenberg and V. H. Resh (eds), Freshwater biomonitoring and benthic macro-invertebrates, Chapman and Hall, New York, 1993.
[10] J. Cayrou, A. Compin, N. Giani and R. Cereghino, Associations spécifiques chez les macroinvertébrés benthiques et leur utilisation pour la classification des cours d’eau. Cas du réseau hydrographique Adour – Garonne (France). – Ann. Limnol. – Int. J. Lim. 36: 189–202.2000.
[11] J. B. Wallace, J. W. Grubaugh and Whiles, M. R., Biotic indices and stream ecosystem processes: results from an experimental study. Ecological Applications 6: 140. 151. 1996.
[12] N. H. Couceiro, B. R. Forsberg, T. P. Pimentel and S. L. B. Luz. A macroinvertebrates multimetric index to evaluate the biological condition of streams in the central Amazon region of Brazil. Ecological Indicators 18(2012)118-125, 2012.
[13] R. Kazlauskas,. Material about the mayflies (Ephemeroptera) in the Lithuanian SSR with description of new species Eurylophella lithuanica Kazlauskas sp. n. and imago Neoephemera maxima (Joly). Biology, Geograhy and Geology 6: 157174, 1959.
[14] R. Kazlauskas, The date on mayflies of the River Oka. Scientific works of Zoological Institute of the Academy of Sciences of the USSR 32: 16417, 1964.
[15] R. Kazlauskas,. The new date on mayflies (Ephmeroptera) of Baltic States. Hydrobiological studies III: 147149. 1962.
[16] P. J. Godfrey, Diversity as a measure of benthic macroinvertebrate community response to water pollution. Hydrobiologia, 57, I 11-122, 1978.
[17] C. K. Yap, A.Rahim Ismail, A.Ismail, and S.G.Tan,. Species Diversity of Macrobenthic Invertebrates in the Semenyih River, Peninsular Malaysia. Pertanika J. Agric. Sci. 26, 139–146, 2003.
[18] M. Z. Azrina, Yap C K, Rahim Ismail A, Ismail A, Tan S G Anthropogenic impacts on the distribution and biodiversity of benthic macroinvertebrates and water quality of the Langat River, Peninsular Malaysia. Ecotoxicol Environ Saf 64: 337-347 2006.
[19] P. Armitage, D. Moss, J. F. Wright, and M. T. Furse, The performance of a new biological water quality score system based on macroinvertebrates over a wide range of unpolluted running-water sites. Water Rese-arch, 17(3). 333-347. 1983.
[20] R. T. Blanca, R. Acosta and N. Prat,.The Andean Biotic Index (ABI): revised tolerance to pollution values for macroinvertebrate families and index performance evaluation, Rev. Biol. Trop (Int. J. Trop. Biol, Vol. 62 (suppl 2) 249-273, 2014.
[21] Mariadoss Selvanayagam and Ricardo Abril: Water Quality Assessment of Piatua River Using Macroinvertebrates in Puyo, Pastaza, EcuadorAmerican Journal of Life Sciences, 3930: 167-174, 2015.
[22] Carlos Marinez-Sanz, Sara Maria Paunte-Gracia, Eduardo Rodolfo Rebolledo and Pedro Jimenez-Prado, Macroinmvertebrates Richness Importance in coastal Tropical Streams of Esmeraldas (Ecuador) and its Use and ZImplications in environmental Management procedures, International Journal of Ecology, Vol 2014, article ID 253134, 2014.
[23] European commission, Directive2000 /60/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council-Establishing a framework for Community action in the field of water policy. Brussels, Belgium 23, October of 2000.
[24] C. I. Weber, Biological field and laboratory methods for measuring the quality of surface waters and effluents. Tech. Rep. EPA-670/4-73-001. Environmental Protection Agency, Cincinnati, Ohio, 1973.
[25] J. W. Feminella and V. H. Resh Hydrologic influence, disturbances and interaspecific competition in a stream Caddisfly population, Ecology, 71: 2083-2094, 1990.
[26] Voelz and McArthur. Sensitivity of aquatic Insects species richness to disturbances in the Adour-Garonne stream system (France), Ecological indicator, Vol. 3, issue2, pp135-142, 2000.
[27] E. M. C. Dominguez, C. Nieto. Ephe-meroptera In E. Dominguez & H. R. Fernandez (Eds.), Macroinvertebradosbntonicos sudamericanos: systematica y biologia (pp, 55-93). Tucuman:-Fundacion-Miguel Lillo-, 2009.
[28] E. O. Wilson. The Diverisity of Life. Harvard University Press, Cambridge, MA. 464 pages, 1992.
[29] D. W. Freckman, TH. Blackburn L. Brussaard, P. Hutchings MA. Palmer and PVR. Snelgrove. Linking biodiversity and ecosystem functioning of soils and sediments. Ambio 26: 556–562, 1997.
[30] Palmer MA, et al. Biodiversity and eco- system processes in freshwater sediments. Ambio 26: 571–577 1997.
[31] S. Postel, S. Carpenter S. Freshwater ecosystem services. Pages 195–214 in Daily GC, ed. Nature’s Services: Societal Dependence on Natural Ecosystems. Washington (DC): Island Press, 1997.
[32] W. Goedkoop, RK. Johnson. Pelagic – benthic coupling: Profundal benthic com- munity response to spring diatom deposition in mesotrophic Lake Erken. Limnology and Oceanography 41: 636–647, 1996.
[33] D. M. Lodge, Christopher A. Taylor, David M. Holdich, and Jostein Skurdal, Nonindigenous Crayfishes Threaten North American Freshwater Biodiversity: Lessons from Europe, Fisheries, Vol. 25, No. 8, 2000.
[34] RA.Stockley, GS. Oxford, RFC.Ormond. Do invertebrates matter? Detrital processing in the River Swale-Ouse. Science of the Total Environment 210: 427–435.1998.
[35] AP. Covich Water and ecosystems. Pages 40–55 in Gleick PH, ed. Water in Crisis. Oxford: Oxford University Press. 1993.
[36] ME.Power. Floods, food chains, and ecosystem processes in rivers. Pages52, 60 in Jones CG, Lawton JH eds. Linking Species and Ecosystems. NewYork: Chapman and Hall. 1995.
[37] SL. Johnson AP. Covich, TA.Crowl, J.Estrada A, Bithorn, and W. Wurtsbaugh. Do seasonally and disturbance influence reproduction in freshwater atyid shrimp in headwater streams, Puerto Rico? Proceedings of the International Association of Theoretical and Applied Limnology 26: 2076–2081. 1998.
[38] R. S.Thorne, W. P. Williams, The response of benthic macroinvertebrates to pollution in developing countries: a multimetric system of bioassessment, Freshwater Biol. 37, 671-686, 1997.
[39] V. H. Resh, Multiple techniques benefit Berkeley campus creek. Water Protection Techniques 1: 184-187. 1995.
[40] Kazancig, and Girgins. Distribution of Oligochaeta species as bioindicators of organic pollution in Ankara stream and their use in biomonitoring. Tr. J. Zoology., 22, 83 1998.
[41] J. L. Metcalfe, Biological water quality assessment of running waters based on macro invertebrate communities: history and present status in Europe. Env. Pollution. 60, 101-139, 1989.
[42] C. W. Hickeys, and W.H.Clements. Effect of heavy metals on benthic macroinvertebrate communities in New Zealand streams. Envir. Toxi. And Chem. 17 (11), 23-38. 1999.
[43] M. R.Whiles L. Brockb., C. Franzena and S. C. Dinsmore,.Stream invertebrate communities, water quality and land-use pattern in an agricultural drainage basin of northeastern. Env. Management. 26 (5), 563. 2000.
[44] L. D Zweig and F. Rabenic. Biomonitoring for deposited using benthic invertebrates: a test on 4 Missouri streams. Journal of the North American Benthological Society. 20, 643. 2001.
[45] R. K. ohnson, T. Wiederholm and D. M. Rosenberg,. Fresh water Biomonitoring using individual organisms, population and species assemblages of Benthic Macroinvertebrates, eds Rosenberg D. M and V. H. Resh, pp 40-158. Chapman and Hall London, 1993.
[46] M. Loreau, S. Naeem, P.Inchausti, J, Bengtsson, JP, Grime, A.Hector, D.U, Hooper, M.A., Huston, D.G.Raffaelli, D.G., B.Schimd, D, Tilman, and D. A. Wardle,. Biodiversity and ecosystem functioning: current knowledge and future challenges. Science. 294, 804–808, 2001.
[47] J. B. C. Jackson, M. X. Kirby, W. H. Berger, K. A. Bjorndal, L. W. Botsford, B. J. Bourque, R. H. Bradbury, R. Cooke, J. Erlandson, J. A. Estes, T.P., Hughes, S. Kidwell, C. B., Lange, H. S., Lenihan, J. M., Pandolfi, C. H., Peterson, R. S. Steneck, M. J. Tegner, and R. R. Warner. Historical overfishing and the recent collapse of coastal ecosystems. Science. 293, 629–638, 2001.
[48] D. Dudgeon, Tropical Asian Streams: Zoobenthos, Ecology and conservation, Hong Kong University press, 1999 Biological water quality assessment of running waters based on macro invertebrate communities: history and present status in Europe. Env. Pollution. 60, 101-139, 1989.
[49] J. L. Metcalfe, Biological water quality assessment of running waters based on Macro invertebrate communities: history and present status in Europe.Env.pollution.60: 101.
[50] D. Jacobsen, C. Cressa, J. M. Mathooko, -J. M. and D. Dudgeon Macroinvertebrates: composition life histories and production. In: Dudheon, D(Ed), Tropical Stream Ecology. Academic Press, San Diego, pp 65-105, 2008.
[51] APHA. Standard Methods for Examination of Water and Waste-water. 21st Edn, American Public Health Association, Washington, DC., USA, 2006.
[52] Mc Cafferty, Aquatic Entomology: the fisherman’s and Ecologist’s illustrated guide to insects and their relative. W. Patrick McCafferty, Jones and Barleth, Nature 448 page, 1983.
[53] R. W. Bouchard, Jr, Guide to Aquatic Invertebrates of the Upper Midwest. Regents of the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota. – DelaCu http://wrc.umn.edu/pubs-/watersqq/index.htm, 2004.
[54] J. M. Elliott, U. H. Humpesch and T. T. -Macan, Larvae of British Ephemeroptera: a key with Eco-logical notes, FBA Scientific Publication 49, 1988.
[55] Neusa Hamada and Sheyla Regina Marques Couceiro, An illustrated key to nymphs of Perlidae (Insecta: Plecoptera) genera in Central Amazonia. Brazil. Rev. Bras. Entomol. 47, 477-480, 2003.
[56] A. C. Ribeiro-Ferreira, and C. G. Froehlich. Anacroneuria Klapalek, 1909 from Amazonas state, North Brazil-(Plecoptera, Perlidae, Anacroneuriinae) Aquatic Insects, 23(3), 187-192, 2001.
[57] K. R. Clarkeanand R. M. Warwick, Change marine communities: an approach to statistical analysis and Interpretatio. Natural environment Research Council, UK, 144 pp1994.
[58] J. L. Wilhm and T. C. Doris. Biological parameters for water quality criteria-Biosciences 18(6), -477-481, 1968.
[59] R. Acosta, Caracterizacion de la com-unidad de macroinvertebrados bentonicios de la Cuenca Altoandina del rio Canete (Lima, Peru). (Trabajo de investigacion del programa del doctoroado y diplomado en studios avanzadosen ecologia). Universidad de Barce-lona, Espana, 2005.
[60] R. Acosta, R. Touma, B. M Rieradevall, and N. Prat. Propuesta de un protocol de evaluacion de la calidad ecologica de rios Andinos(C. E. R. A) ysu aplicion en dos cuencas en Eucador y Peru. Limenetica, 28(1), 35-64, 2009.
[61] J. D. Allan, Stream Ecology: Structure and Function of Running Waters. New York: Chapman and Hall. 1995.
[62] A. I. Payne. The Ecology of Tropical Lakes and Rivers. Ed. John Wiley and sons Ltd. Great Britain, 1986.
[63] G. Roldán Bioindicación de la calidad del Agua en Colombia. Propuesta para el uso del método BMWP/Col. Ed.Universidad de Antioquia. 2003.
[64] J. B. Alam, M. R.Islam, Z. Muyen, M. Mamun, S. Islam, Water quality parameters along rivers, Int. J. Environ.Sci. Tech, 4 (1): 159-167, 2007.
[65] G. C. Okpokwasili and T. C. Akujobi, Bacteriological indicators of tropical water quality, Environmental Toxicology and Water QualityVolume 11, Issue 2, pages 77–81, 1996.
[66] D. Hering, O.., Moog, and T. Ofenbock, Cook book for the development of a multimetric index for biological condition of aquatic ecosystems: experiences from the European AQEM and STAR projects and related initiatives. Hydrobiologia 566, 311-342, 2006.
[67] F. M. Oliveria, R. L. Araujo, J. S. Carvalho, and S. S Costa, Determinacao da variacao no microclima de Manus-AM por atividades anthropogenicas e modulacoes climaticas naturais. Acta Amaz. 38, 687-700, 2008.
[68] J. L. Stoddard, A. T. Herlihy, D. V. Peck, R. M. Hughes, T. R. Whittier, and E. T. R. Tarquinio, A process for creating multimetric indices for large-scale aquatic surveys. J. N. -Am. Benthol. Soc. 27, 878-891, 2008.
[69] JLWilhm and T. C. Donis Biological parameters for water quality criteria. BioScience 18: 477-81, lDepartment of Zoology and Reservoir Research Center, Oklahoma State University 1968.
[70] C. A. Mebane, Testing bioassessment metrics: macroinvertebrate, sculpine, and salmonid responses to stream.
[71] Habitat, sediment and metals. -Environ. Monit-. Assess. -67, 293-322, 2001.
[72] N. Moya, S. Tomanova and T. Oberdorff. Initial development of a multimetric index based on aquatic macroinvertebrates to assess stream condition in the upper Isiboro-Secure Basin, Bolivian Amazon. Hydrobiologia 589, 107-116, 2007.
[73] Lenat and M. T. Barbour, Using benthic macroinvertebrate community structure paid, cost-effective, water quality monitoring; rapid bioassessment. In SL Loeb, a spacie, eds. Biological monitoring of aquatic systems. Boca Raton, FL: Lewis-, pp. 187-215macroinvertebrates. Chapman and Hall, New York, pp 1-9, 1994.
[74] S. Santhosh. C. Krishna Mohan. N. R. Dhanesh and P. Akolkar. Water quality assessment of river Karamana by using Benthic macroinvertebrates, Southern Kerala, India: The Ecoscan 5(3&4): 135-140, 2011.
[75] P. Tyagi. Occurrence of benthic macro-invertebrates families encountered in river Hindan in Uttar Pradesh (India). J. Zool India 1(9):-209-216, 2006.
[76] I. G. Needhm, P. R. Needham, A guide to the study of fresh water biology. Holdden & Day San Francisco: 108, 1969.
[77] G. T. Tonapi, Fresh water animals of India: An ecological approach. Oxford and IBH Publishing Co. New Delhi: 341, 1980.
[78] D. F. Baptista D. F. Buss, M. Egler, A. Giovanelli, M. P. Silveria, and J. L. Nessimian, Multimetric index based on benthic macroin-vertebrates for evaluation of Atlantic Forest stream at Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil, Hydrobiologia 575, 83-94, 2007.
[79] S. R. M. Couceiro, N. Hamada, B. R. Foresberg, and C. Padovesi-Fonseca. Effects of anthropogenic silit on aquatic macroinvertebrates and abiotic variable in stream in the Brazillian Amazon. J. Soil Sediments 10, 89-103, 2010.
[80] P. Kleine, and S. Trrivinho Strixino, Chironomidae and other aquatic macroinvertebrates of a first order stream: community response after habitat fragmentation, Acta Limnol-. Bras. 17(1). 81-90, 2005.
[81] R. L. Vannote, G. W. Minshall, K. W. Cummins, J. R. Sedell, and C. E. Cushing, The river continuum concept” Canadian Journal of Fish and Aquatic Sciences, vol. -37, no1, pp. 130- 137, 1980.
[82] F. Wang, A. Tessier, and H. Landies, Oxygen measurements in the burrows of fresh water insects-. Freshwater Biol. -46, 317-327, 2001.
[83] W. K. Dodds, Fresh water ecology: concepts and environmental application. In: Aquatic Ecological Series. Academic press, San Diego, 2002.
[84] A. H. Roy, A. D. Rosemond, M. J. Paul. D. S. Leigh, and J. B. Wallace. Stream macroinvertebrates response to catchment Urbanization (Georgia, USA), 2003.
[85] S. M. Mandaville. Benthic Macroinver tebrates in Freshwaters-Taxa Tolerance Values, Metrics, and Protocols6 Dartmouth: Soil & Water Conservation Societies of Metro Halifax. 2000.
[86] M. T. Barbour, J. Gerritsen, B. D. Snyder, and J. B. Stribling, Rapid Bioassessment Protocols for Use in Streams and Wadeable Rivers: Periphyton, Benthic Macroinvertebrates and Fish, Second Edition. EPA U. S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Water, Washington, EPA. D. C. 841-B-99- 002, 1999.
[87] S. Linke, R. Bailey, andI. J. Schwindt. Temporal variability of stream bioassessments using benthic macro-invertebrates. Fresh water Biol. -42, 575-584, 1999.
[88] S. J. Ormerod, The influences of habitat and seasonal sampling regims on the ordination and classification of macroinvertebrates assemblages in the catchment of the River Wye, Wales. Hydrobiologia 150: 143-151, 1987.
[89] M. T. Furse, D. Moss, J. W. Wright and P. D. Armitage. The influence of seasonal and taxonomic factors on the ordination and classification of running water sites in Great Britain and on the prediction of their macroinvertebrate communities. Fresh water biology 1414: 257-280, 1984.
Author Information
  • Department of Environmental Engineering, Universidad Estatal Amazónica, Puyo, Pastaza, Ecuador; Loyola-ICAM College of Engineering and Technology (LICET), Loyola Campus, Chennai, India

  • Department of Environmental Engineering, Universidad Estatal Amazónica, Puyo, Pastaza, Ecuador

Cite This Article
  • APA Style

    Mariadoss Selvanayagam, Ricardo Abril. (2016). Use of Benthic Macro Invertebrates as a Biological Indicator in Assessing Water Quality of River Puyo, Puyo, Pastaza, Ecuador. American Journal of Life Sciences, 4(1), 1-12. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajls.20160401.11

    Copy | Download

    ACS Style

    Mariadoss Selvanayagam; Ricardo Abril. Use of Benthic Macro Invertebrates as a Biological Indicator in Assessing Water Quality of River Puyo, Puyo, Pastaza, Ecuador. Am. J. Life Sci. 2016, 4(1), 1-12. doi: 10.11648/j.ajls.20160401.11

    Copy | Download

    AMA Style

    Mariadoss Selvanayagam, Ricardo Abril. Use of Benthic Macro Invertebrates as a Biological Indicator in Assessing Water Quality of River Puyo, Puyo, Pastaza, Ecuador. Am J Life Sci. 2016;4(1):1-12. doi: 10.11648/j.ajls.20160401.11

    Copy | Download

  • @article{10.11648/j.ajls.20160401.11,
      author = {Mariadoss Selvanayagam and Ricardo Abril},
      title = {Use of Benthic Macro Invertebrates as a Biological Indicator in Assessing Water Quality of River Puyo, Puyo, Pastaza, Ecuador},
      journal = {American Journal of Life Sciences},
      volume = {4},
      number = {1},
      pages = {1-12},
      doi = {10.11648/j.ajls.20160401.11},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajls.20160401.11},
      eprint = {https://download.sciencepg.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ajls.20160401.11},
      abstract = {There is an increased need for water conservation and protection for the sustainable livelihood of human beings as well as for the goodness of our environment. There is a greater awareness among the researchers, and Government organizations in the conservation of water resources in Central Amazonia region particularly in Ecuador. We have taken water sample from eight different sampling stations in the river Puyo, one of the major tributaries of river Amazon in South America. So far, no work has been carried out on the water quality of river Puyo to understand the biodiversity of macroinvertebrates and use of the same in the water quality assessment. Our final index included five matrices, namely Biotic index, Ephemeroptera,-Plecoptera-Trichopters (EPT) richness as richness measures, EPT and Chironomidae ratio, H’ and evenness (Hmax) to understand the water quality. We have also studied the physico chemical characteristics of water and coliform bacteria to assess the quality of water. All the values obtained reflect the quality of water in the sampling stations 1, 2, 3, 6, and 7, which are in the upstream located in the high altitudes as well as in the forest area, are better than the other three sampling stations 4, 5 and 8, which are located in the downstream in the urban area. In general, all the five sampling stations indicated more or less good water quality while the other three stations (4, 5 and 8) showed deterioration in water quality and thus necessitated a need for mitigation measure to save the Puyo river. The various metric values are (p value is > 0.05).},
     year = {2016}
    }
    

    Copy | Download

  • TY  - JOUR
    T1  - Use of Benthic Macro Invertebrates as a Biological Indicator in Assessing Water Quality of River Puyo, Puyo, Pastaza, Ecuador
    AU  - Mariadoss Selvanayagam
    AU  - Ricardo Abril
    Y1  - 2016/03/07
    PY  - 2016
    N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajls.20160401.11
    DO  - 10.11648/j.ajls.20160401.11
    T2  - American Journal of Life Sciences
    JF  - American Journal of Life Sciences
    JO  - American Journal of Life Sciences
    SP  - 1
    EP  - 12
    PB  - Science Publishing Group
    SN  - 2328-5737
    UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajls.20160401.11
    AB  - There is an increased need for water conservation and protection for the sustainable livelihood of human beings as well as for the goodness of our environment. There is a greater awareness among the researchers, and Government organizations in the conservation of water resources in Central Amazonia region particularly in Ecuador. We have taken water sample from eight different sampling stations in the river Puyo, one of the major tributaries of river Amazon in South America. So far, no work has been carried out on the water quality of river Puyo to understand the biodiversity of macroinvertebrates and use of the same in the water quality assessment. Our final index included five matrices, namely Biotic index, Ephemeroptera,-Plecoptera-Trichopters (EPT) richness as richness measures, EPT and Chironomidae ratio, H’ and evenness (Hmax) to understand the water quality. We have also studied the physico chemical characteristics of water and coliform bacteria to assess the quality of water. All the values obtained reflect the quality of water in the sampling stations 1, 2, 3, 6, and 7, which are in the upstream located in the high altitudes as well as in the forest area, are better than the other three sampling stations 4, 5 and 8, which are located in the downstream in the urban area. In general, all the five sampling stations indicated more or less good water quality while the other three stations (4, 5 and 8) showed deterioration in water quality and thus necessitated a need for mitigation measure to save the Puyo river. The various metric values are (p value is > 0.05).
    VL  - 4
    IS  - 1
    ER  - 

    Copy | Download

  • Sections