Water quality study of the Actopan river in the localities of Santa Rosa and La Linda, Veracruz using macroinvertebrates and diatoms as bioindicators

Abstract

Aquatic macroinvertebrates and diatoms are widely used to study the water quality of rivers. This study was carried out on the Actopan River, in the localities of Santa Rosa and La Linda, Ver. In Santa Rosa, the family most abundant was Hydraenidae with 46 organisms. The BMWP index, it reached 80. In the locality La Linda, the gastropod of family Bithyniidae with 896 organisms. The BMWP index it reached 68. With respect to diatoms, at locality of Santa Rosa, the genera most abundant was Diatoma sp. with 68 organisms. In the locality of La Linda, the most abundant was Fragilaria with 11 organisms. By applying the PDI similar values were reached, 1.53 for Santa Rosa and 1.56 for La Linda. It is convenient to continue with macroinvertebrates and benthonic diatom study in the zone of Actopan river, because it allows to determine how the water quality fluctuates through time.