Evaluación de la calidad del agua del Río Copueno, tramo Paccha- Jardin del Upano, mediante macroinvertebrados bentónicos.

Abstract

The objective was to evaluate the biological quality of the Copueno River, Paccha-Jardín del Upano section, located between the Proaño and Macas parishes, using benthic macroinvertebrates as bioindicators. The mentioned section has a length of 2km, where 5 monitoring stations were arranged, identified as Copueno Control (COPT), and Copueno "Problem" (COP1, COP2, COP3, COP4), covering the high, medium and low areas of the delimited section, the same ones that were analysed during the summer and rainy season. The sample collection was carried out using Surber and screen networks, and applying the Kick or zapateo sampling technique. The collected specimens were analysed in the Provincial Government Laboratory of Morona Santiago, where the biological indices were aplied: Biological Monitor Working Party (BMWP/Col) and Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera and Trichoptera (EPT), in order to determine the water quality, assigning values to different organisms according to their level of tolerance to pollution, ranging from 1 (the most tolerant) to 10 (the most sensitive). The results obtained reflect that of a total of 3122 specimens collected, (1391 in summer and 1731 in winter), the water quality in dry season according to the BMWP/Col is GOOD, and ACCEPTABLE in wet season, while, according to the EPT, the quality is REGULAR during the two seasons. In conclusion it is established that the quality of the water decreases as it approaches the urban hull, for that reason the importance of conserving the hydric sources is primordial in the zone of study.