Biological monitoring using macroinvertebrates as bioindicators of water quality of maroaga stream in the maroaga cave system, presidente figueiredo, amazon, Brazil

Abstract

Aquatic environments are being modified by anthropogenic activities regarding their biological, physical, and chemical conditions; even pristine aquatic ecosystems can be threatened. This study focused on the biological monitoring of Maroaga Stream - a first order stream located in an Environmental Protection Area in the Amazon using the Biological Monitoring Working Party (BMWP) Score System. The BMWP Score System revealed that the Maroaga Stream was a Class I stream (score of 138 points), indicating clean or not significantly altered water quality. The results suggest the adequate environmental conditions and ecological responses of the Maroaga Stream. © 2014 Christiane Brito Uherek and Fernando Bernardo Pinto Gouveia.