Macroinvertebrados bentónicos y su relación con el estado del bosque de ribera y las condiciones fisicoquímicas en una zona de la Cuenca Alta del Río Tunjuelo

Abstract

The riparian forest is a natural area featuring aquatic and terrestrial environments, conformed by very dynamic ecosystems that moderate water temperature and solar radiation that strikes it provide nutrients and habitat for many species of animals, plants and microorganisms, and is a buffer zone of chemicals used in agriculture and other human activities. The “paddocking process” for grazing, installation of property, agricultural activities and waste dumping are the main causes of detriment of riparian forests, which in turn adversely affect the populations of macroinvertebrates sensitive to slight environmental changes and quality of the water. To determine the effect of the deterioration of riparian forest on communities of benthic macroinvertebrates, were determinated two zones of a reach system, one with a riparian forest under restoration process and another with absence of riparian forest, which were compared with the physicochemical characteristics and benthic macroinvertebrate populations remain there. This, by collecting biological samples with Surber and D-Net networks. The studies were conducted in August 2014 for dry season and February 2015 for the rainy season. Data from collected specimens were used to determine the alpha and beta diversities. It was found that the restored area had a total of 1415 individuals distributed in 57 genus, while the intervened area had 838 individuals distributed in 46 genus, appearing less dominance and greater equity in the restored area, which could reflect the importance that have the riparian forest for aquatic populations. Beta diversity showed slight similarities because of specific genres of each zone, limited by environmental conditions of each site. The correspondence analysis showed that the substrates do not depend on the riparian forest, however the diversity and abundance itself. Finally it became clear that the state of the riparian forest directly affects populations of benthic macroinvertebrates. A riparian forest in good condition presents low dominance, good equity and better quality water.