Survey of bioindicator macroinvertebrates for analysis of the environmental condition of the Juqueriquerê River, Caraguatatuba (SP) Rickson Drobinich do Nascimento, Fernando Freitas de Oliveira

Abstract

Human activities in lotic ecosystems, such as rivers, streams and springs, can alter the environmental quality of these environments. Therefore, it is necessary to employ strategies to monitor these changes. One tool that has been used for this purpose is the survey of the aquatic macroinvertebrate community, which can be used as a bioindicator to assess environmental quality. The present study aimed to use these data to assess the environmental quality of the Juqueriquerê River, the main river in the municipality of Caraguatatuba-SP. For this purpose, a survey of the macroinvertebrate fauna was carried out at three collection points along the river, using the sediment dragging method with a “D” net (500 µm mesh) for collection, where it was stored as a sample for later identification of the organisms. Finally, the Biological Monitoring Working Group (BWG) and ICB RIO (Benthic Community Index for Rivers). Regarding the application of the indexes, it was observed that the ICB RIO index presented greater accuracy and better applicability in the studied environment. Based on the ICB RIO index, it was possible to classify the water from points 1 and 3 as “Good” and the water from point 2 as “Regular”, which is related to the possible absence of sensitive organisms and greater presence of resistant organisms in the collected samples, which may be a reflection of the intensity of activities that began to disturb the environment.