Biological quality of five superficial freshwater bodies of Cuenca 24 Virilla-Tárcoles. 2009-2024
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.47633/36hadf50Keywords:
Aquatic ecosystems, Freshwater, Limnology, Water pollution, Water qualityAbstract
In this study, five of the main tributaries of the Virilla-Tárcoles Basin 24 were biologically analyzed. For this, the BMWP’CR (Biological Monotoring Working Party score) index, modified for Costa Rica, was used, based on Executive Decree “Regulation 33903 MINAE-S of La Gaceta, September 2007”. The water bodies showed better biological quality in the upper sections, wich graduality decreased as they flowed downstream. This decline in quality was influenced by factors such as inreasing microbiological contamination as the rivers pass through the Greater Metropolitan Area (GAM). Despite this, both pollution-tolerant benhic organisms and non-tolerant benthic organisms, as well as fish, were collected. Biologically, in ascending order according to the BMWP’-CR, the highest index during the rainy season was found in the Torres river, followed by the María Aguilar, the Tiribí, the Virilla, and finally the Rivera stream. The highest abundance during the rainy season was recorded in the María Aguilar river, followed by the Tiribí, the Virilla, and the Rivera stream. Regarding abundance, the highest was also found, as the rainy season, in the María Aguilar river, followed by the Torres, the Tiribí, and lastly, as in the rainy season, in the Rivera stream.
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