Physicochemical Parameters and Bentonic Macroinvertebrates for the Water Quality Analysis in Artificial Lentic Ecosystems

Abstract

The methods for assessing water quality in lentic ecosystems are based on the analysis of physicochemical and biological variables, which are complementary to the research processes of water resource. Physicochemical variables reflect environmental conditions in each time instant, but they do not reveal the characteristics of water for an extended period. The main objective of this paper is to present an assessment of water quality in five artificial lakes of a golf course using physicochemical parameters (in-situ) and benthic macroinvertebrates. The results showed that dissolved oxygen concentrations < 4.48 mg/L possibly significantly decreased the abundance and diversity of benthic macroinvertebrates in the aquatic ecosystems under study. The diversity indexes of Shannon-Wiener (0.742) and Simpson (0.611) also suggested a low diversity of the benthic community. The decrease in dissolved oxygen was possibly associated with long-term contributions of organic matter from organic fertilizers applied on the golf course. The average concentrations of phosphorus observed in lentic ecosystems suggested a hypertrophic status (529 µg/L). This trophic status was possibly generated by the long-term contribution of phosphorus (runoff and leaching) from fertilizers applied on the golf course.