Estrutura da comunidade de macroinvertebrados bentônicos em riachos de baixa ordem, sob diferente grau de impacto antrópico, na bacia hidrográfica do Ribeirão das Antas (Planalto de Poços de Caldas, MG)

Abstract

The present study aimed to determine the benthic macroinvertebrate community structure of the in low-order streams under different processes of occupation and degree of human disturbance in the watershed of Ribeirão das Antas, Poços de Caldas Plateau. For this, nine sampling points was established in creeks and streams of low order (3rd order 1st) this basin. Sampling occurred in two distinct periods of the year, during the rainy (January/2013) and dry (July/2013) season. The Rapid Assessment Protocol - PAR (CALLISTO et al., 2002) was applied to characterize the surroundings of the study sites. Measurements of pH, electrical conductivity, temperature, redox potential, dissolved oxygen and total dissolved solids concentrations were determined in situ using a multisensor equipment. The macroinvertebrate community was collected using a D-frame net with 250 μm. The sampling effort was by 1 minute, divided into three taken of 20 seconds to explore different microhabitats. Diversity (Shannon , Simpson , Margalef richness and evenness) and biotic (BMWP , ASPT and EPT %) indices were calculated. In the application of the PAR, it was found that the ribeirão Tamanduá (PT2), córrego da Ventania (PT9) and córrego das Antas (PT4 and PT7) presented altered conditions, while the ribeirão Pitangueiras (PT5), córrego do Aterrado (PT8), córrego Pinheirinhos (PT1), córrego Cachoeirinha (PT6) and ribeirão Tamanduá (PT3) were classified as impacted. In total 2.689 organisms were collected, and 1.150 and 1.539 in January/2013 in July/2013, belonging to 47 families of the phylum Annelida and Class Insecta. The Diptera were the main components of the community, especially the abundance of chironomids. Among the functional groups, the collectors were those with the highest relative abundance for both the collections. Whereas the index BMWP in PT4 , PT7 , and PT9 points showed great features, the points PT6 and PT8 were classified as acceptable , the points PT1 and PT5 were dubious quality and PT2 and PT3 points were critical quality. The ASPT and EPT indices were correlated with BMWP index values were high in environments with best quality. The Application of Rapid Assessment Protocol and biotic metrics proved very important tools in the assessment of aquatic ecosystems in the headwater of ribeirão das Antas watershed.