Assessment of potential reference sites for evaluating the ecological status of subtropical and temperate Brazilian lotic systems using the epilithic diatom community

This research aimed at determining reference sites in southern Brazilian lotic systems, using the Water Quality Trophic Index (WQTI), based on epilithic diatom communities. Within the period of 2012 and 2016, 140 epilithic diatom samples from seven sampling sites within the spring area of the Andrea...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:	Environmental science and pollution research international Vol. 28; no. 7; pp. 8698 - 8708
Main Authors:	Freitas, Núbia Cristina Weber, Heinrich, Carla Giselda, Etges, Tanise, de Souza Celente, Gleison, Lobo, Eduardo A.
Format:	Journal Article
Language:	English
Published:	Berlin/Heidelberg Springer Berlin Heidelberg 01-02-2021 Springer Nature B.V
Subjects:	Aquatic environment Aquatic Pollution Atmospheric Protection/Air Quality Control/Air Pollution Biochemical oxygen demand Brazil Coliforms Diatoms Dissolved oxygen Dominant species Earth and Environmental Science Ecotoxicology Environment Environmental Chemistry Environmental Health Environmental Monitoring Environmental science Fecal coliforms Plankton Quality assessment Research Article Rivers Sampling Species classification Total dissolved solids Turbidity Waste Water Technology Water analysis Water Management Water Pollution Control Water Quality Water sampling Water temperature Brazil Epilithic diatom communities Water Quality Trophic Index (WQTI) Water quality evaluation Southern Brazilian lotic systems Good ecological status Good water quality
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Summary:	This research aimed at determining reference sites in southern Brazilian lotic systems, using the Water Quality Trophic Index (WQTI), based on epilithic diatom communities. Within the period of 2012 and 2016, 140 epilithic diatom samples from seven sampling sites within the spring area of the Andreas Stream Hydrographic Basin, Vera Cruz County, RS, Brazil, were analyzed quarterly. Similarly, from 2012 and 2014, water samples in these sampling sites were collected for determination of physicochemical and microbiological parameters, such as water temperature, pH, turbidity, dissolved oxygen, biochemical oxygen demand, nitrate, phosphate, total dissolved solids, and fecal coliforms. The results indicated the occurrence of two diatom samples groups with significant differences ( p < 0.05). Group 1 (sampling sites P1, P4, and P5) was classified in the oligotrophic category with an average WQTI of 1.3 ± 0.2, while group 2 (sampling sites P2, P3, P6, and P7) was classified in the β-mesotrophic category with an average value of 2.0 ± 0.4). Achnanthidium minutissimum and Platessa hustedtii the dominant species were classified as oligotrophic taxa. Thus, we proposed the upper limit of the first interval of the WQTI score scale, equal to 1.5, as a reference value to differentiate the limits between the “high” and “good” ecological status to determine “reference sites” for subtropical and temperate Brazilian aquatic systems. The physical, chemical, and microbiological water quality evaluation gives support to this proposal, as far as the results indicated a significant improvement in the water quality, classifying sampling sites P1, P4, and P5 as having good quality appropriate for multiple uses.
ISSN:	0944-1344 1614-7499
DOI:	10.1007/s11356-020-11136-w