Aquatic macroinvertebrate richness and composition: impacts in gold mining and agricultural areas
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.35381/a.g.v8i15.5158Keywords:
Aquatic macroinvertebrates, gold mining, agricultural impact, bioindicators, Ecuadorian Amazon, (AGROVOC Thesaurus).Abstract
The expansion of gold mining and agricultural activities in the Ecuadorian Amazon poses a critical threat to the integrity of aquatic ecosystems. The objective is to compare the richness, composition and diversity of aquatic macroinvertebrates in the ravines of the Alto Huambuno (Napo, Ecuador) exposed to gold mining versus agricultural activities, integrating physicochemical parameters, heavy metals and habitat attributes. Two seasonal sampling campaigns were carried out in 12 streams, evaluating physicochemical parameters, heavy metals and habitat attributes. The results showed a significant gradient: in reference sites a greater richness and dominance of EPT, intermediate diversity in agriculture and lower in mining. Community variance was explained by metal concentrations and sedimentation. Baetidae, Leptohyphidae, Elmidae and Chironomus were identified as indicator taxa of environmental conditions. It is concluded that mining generates severe and irreversible impacts, while agriculture allows some biodiversity conservation.
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