Evaluación de la calidad ecológica de los ríos Quirpinchaca y Cachimayu usando macroinvertebrados como bioindicadores de contaminación
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Rev. Cien. Tec. In.
Abstract
Los ríos son grandes centros de biodiversidad, pero también los más amenazados por distintas actividades antropogénicas. El caso particular del río Quirpinchaca que atraviesa por el centro de la ciudad de Sucre ha sufrido visiblemente serios daños y hasta ahora no existen estudios con base ecológica y técnica que permita evaluar y restaurarlo. Por ello este trabajo pretende evaluar la calidad ecológica del río Quirpinchaca (siete sitios) y Cachimayu (tres sitios) usando a los macroinvertebrados acuáticos como potenciales bioindicadores de contaminación apoyados con datos fisicoquímicos. Los índices bióticos usados fueron el BMWP/Bol, abundancia relativa de grupos sensibles (Ephemeroptera Plecoptera y Trichoptera) y de grupos tolerantes (Diptera). Como resultados relevantes, los tres índices bióticos indican que el río Quirpinchaca presenta calidad "muy crítica" desde las nacientes hasta la desembocadura al río Chaquimayu, mientras que este último río presenta calidades que varían desde calidad "buena" hasta calidad "muy crítica". Los parámetros fisicoquímicos que mejor respondieron a la contaminación fueron el oxígeno di suelto y la demanda química de oxígeno, cuyos valores indican que el río Quirpinchaca presenta mayor grado de contaminación en el centro de la ciudad que en zonas menos pobladas como las nacientes del río y la confluencia con el río Cachimayu. Por otro lado, el río Cachimayu presenta mejores condiciones fisicoquímicas que el río Quirpinchaca. Consideramos que estos resultados podrían servir como una herramienta útil, sencilla y económica para monitorear espacial y temporalmente a cada uno de estos sitios estudiados y en futuros planes de gestión y restauración principalmente del río Quirpinchaca, cuya meta debería incluir la recuperación en riqueza y abundancia de taxones sensibles como los tiene el río Cachimayu.
Rivers are biodiversity hotspots, but also the most threatened ecosystems by human activities. Particularly Quirpinchaca River that flows through Sucre city center, has suffered serious damage and until now there are no studies with ecological and technical basis to evaluate and restore it. Therefore, this work aims to evaluate the ecological quality from Quirpinchaca River (seven sites) and Cachimayu River (three sites), using aquatic macroinvertebrates as potential bioindicators of contamination supported by physicochemical data. Biotic indices used were BMWP/Bol, relative abundance of intolerant taxa (Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera and Trichoptera) and tolerant taxa (Diptera). As relevant results, the three biotic indices indicate that Quirpinchaca River presents "very critical" quality from the source to the mouth of Cachimayu River, while the Cachimayu River has qualities ranging from "very critical" to "good". The physicochemical parameters that best responded to the contamination were the dissolved oxygen and the chemical oxygen demand, whose values indicate that the Quirpinchaca River presents a greater degree of pollution in the city center than in less populated areas such as the headwaters of the river and the confluence with the Cachimayu River. On the other hand, the Cachimayu River presents better physicochemical conditions than the Quirpinchaca River. We consider that these results could serve as a useful, single and economical tool to monitor spatially and temporally each studied sites and in future management and restoration plans mainly of the Quirpinchaca River, whose goal should include the recovery of richness and abundance of sensitive taxa like the Cachimayu River.
Rivers are biodiversity hotspots, but also the most threatened ecosystems by human activities. Particularly Quirpinchaca River that flows through Sucre city center, has suffered serious damage and until now there are no studies with ecological and technical basis to evaluate and restore it. Therefore, this work aims to evaluate the ecological quality from Quirpinchaca River (seven sites) and Cachimayu River (three sites), using aquatic macroinvertebrates as potential bioindicators of contamination supported by physicochemical data. Biotic indices used were BMWP/Bol, relative abundance of intolerant taxa (Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera and Trichoptera) and tolerant taxa (Diptera). As relevant results, the three biotic indices indicate that Quirpinchaca River presents "very critical" quality from the source to the mouth of Cachimayu River, while the Cachimayu River has qualities ranging from "very critical" to "good". The physicochemical parameters that best responded to the contamination were the dissolved oxygen and the chemical oxygen demand, whose values indicate that the Quirpinchaca River presents a greater degree of pollution in the city center than in less populated areas such as the headwaters of the river and the confluence with the Cachimayu River. On the other hand, the Cachimayu River presents better physicochemical conditions than the Quirpinchaca River. We consider that these results could serve as a useful, single and economical tool to monitor spatially and temporally each studied sites and in future management and restoration plans mainly of the Quirpinchaca River, whose goal should include the recovery of richness and abundance of sensitive taxa like the Cachimayu River.
Description
Vol. 17, No. 19