Ruperto-Cintrón, Jessica M.

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    Benthic macroinvertebrates as bioindicators of water quality in the Yaguez River, Mayaguez, Puerto Rico
    (2008) Ruperto-Cintrón, Jessica M.; Acosta-Martínez, Jaime A.; College of Arts and Sciences - Sciences; Acosta Mercado, Dimaris; Santos Flores, Carlos J.; Department of Biology; García Sais, Jorge
    The objective of this study was to correlate the diversity of aquatic macroinvertebrates with water quality of the Yagüez River in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico. In the year 2005, for a period of eight months (January 27-December 12), three stations were randomly selected with three replicates establishing a longitudinal gradient along the river. Physicochemical variables such as pH, water temperature, stream flow, dissolved oxygen, conductivity, turbidity, and nutrients were measured at each site. Macroinvertebrates were collected with a D-net and preserved in 70% ethanol. The dominant orders found were Coleoptera (44.9%), Ephemeroptera (31.7%), and Prosobranchia (8.9%). The majority of the organisms found within these orders are indicators of intermediate and fair water quality. The Two-Way ANOVA indicated that seasonality was the variable that best explained the distribution of macroinvertebrates. According to the biological index “Biological Monitoring Working Party” (BMWP), stations A (downstream) and B (midstream) had acceptable water quality, and station C (upstream) had dubious water quality. The spatial distribution of the macroinvertebrates along the Yagüez River was determined by the seasonal rainfall pattern (dry and rainy season).