Por:
Cristian E. Granados-Martínez
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Fecha:
2016
The Ephemeroptera are an order of insects very important in the benthic community, being bio-indicators of
water quality, considering key conservation. Despite the dense hydrographic network of the Sierra Nevada
de Santa Marta (SNSM), Colombia Caribbean region, knowledge of aquatic macroinvertebrates assemblage
is insufficient; limnological studies have focused mostly on the Gaira River. The aim of this study was to
determine the composition and structure of the order Ephemeroptera in eight basins of the SNSM. The samples
were collected between October-November 2013. In situ physical and chemical parameters were measured;
nutrients and microorganisms were analyzed in the laboratory. In addition, the taxonomic composition and
abundance was determined; Likewise canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) with the physico-chemical
and microbiological biological parameters was performed. 1924 individuals distributed in five families and 12
genera were collected. The most abundant taxa were Leptohyphes (25 %), Baetodes (25 %), and Prebaetodes
(9 %). According to the CCA, the temperature was the variable that best explained the variance of the presence
of taxa. The basins of the SNSM remain important reservoirs of diversity of aquatic organisms. The results are
a contribution to the knowledge of the order Ephemeroptera.