BENTHIC MACROINVERTEBRATE DIVERSITY AND WATER QUALITY BIOASSESSMENT OF THE CENTRAL LAKE IN QINGTONGXIA RESERVOIR WETLAND NATURE RESERVE, CHINA

Abstract

The lake is a dynamic lentic ecosystem subject to different pressures that influence and compromise its ecological structure. The main aim of this study was to evaluate the potential of using the benthic macroinvertebrate to assess the water quality. Ten sites were sampled in spring, summer and autumn in 2021. We collected 969 individuals of benthic macroinvertebrates belonging to 42 species and 22 families. Leander modestus (Palaemonidae) with 48.71%, followed by Radix ovata (Lymnaeidae) with 18.27% were the most abundant species and collected at all study sites in all seasons. We used biological indices, including Shannon index (H'), Pielou’s evenness index (J) and biological monitoring working party (BMWP). This study showed H' scores ranged from 0.65 to 2.18, Pielou’s evenness index (J) scores fluctuated from 0.21 to 0.68 and BMWP values assessed ranging from 19 to 40. Our findings showed that the water quality of the Central Lake ranged from polluted to slightly impacted or “poor to good”. Further water resource management and the pollution control should be a high priority to prevent benthic organisms in this lake.