Use of benthic macroinvertebrates as bioindicators of water quality in the river Palacagüina, North of Nicaragua

Abstract

The river Palacagüina is located in coordinates with latitude N 13º27ʹ48ʹʹ and longitude W 86º24ʹ25ʹʹ, The National Water Law of Nicaragua rules as a protection zone of water sources a strip of 200 meters on both sides of the river, however the 58.95% of the surface is used for agriculture and cattle raising that provide a lot of nutrients and pollutants elements to the water.

The objective of this study is to compare the water quality of the River Palacagüina upper side versus the lower one, by using benthic macroinvertebrates as bioindicators of water quality. The main purpose of this river is the water supply system through the infiltration gallery to 46.67% of the total population of the municipality of Palacagüina estimated at 15,003; INIFOM, 2012.

During the study 11 orders and 31 taxa were recorded, the most representative taxa were Gomphidae (32.4%), Naucoridae (23.47%) and Libellulidae (16.85%). The results of the water quality of the river Palacagüina index using the biological monitoring working party adapted to Costa Rica (BMWP - CR) suggests that the water of the River Palacagüina contaminated.