Evaluación del estado de conservación de tres sitios de visita del atractivo turístico Laguna Kuyuk en el Parque Nacional Sangay mediante macroinvertebrados acuáticos.

Abstract

The present curricular integration research work was carried out in the Kuyuk Lagoon in the higher zone of Sangay National Park, the main problem identified was environmental pollution, caused by uncontrolled visits, animal feces, and liquid and solid waste. This problem affects the conservation status and generates the loss of the tourist potential of the attraction in the area. This is why were evaluated the conservation status of three visitor sites in the Kuyuk Lagoon tourist attraction through aquatic macroinvertebrates. For the characterization of the attraction, the methodology for the Hierarchization of Attractions and Generation of Tourist Spaces was applied, concerning the condition of the attraction. indicators such as organic and inorganic garbage, floating material, floating material inorganic garbage, floating material, odor, and foams of anthropic origin were measured. specific parameters for measuring water quality for recreational uses were measured according to León Vizcaino (1998), quality criteria of the Unified Text of Secondary Legislation on the Environment (TULSMA) and the (TULSMA) and the World Health Organization (WHO), The Shannon equity index and the BMWP/Col, ABI, and EPT indices were used for macroinvertebrates. The results for water quality were excellent and suitable for any aquatic sport. However, the biotic indices recorded results of deficient water quality, with low equity of individuals per family due to the dominance of families belonging to the order of damselflies. To sum up, these results are interpreted as the presence of moderate pollution in the Kuyuk Lagoon.