Caracterización fisicoquímica y biológica de la calidad de aguas de la cuenca de la quebrada Piedras Blancas, Antioquia, Colombia

Abstract

From April to December 1996 a limnologica! study was carried out in 17 streams near Medellín, in order to stablish their water quality. The area is located in Piedras Blancas Park (6° 8' 20"N, 75" 30' 20" W) SE of Medellín at 2 400 m altitude. Three sampling periods, encompasing wet and dry season were selected: April-May, AugustSeptember and October-December. For qualitative collection methods hand screen and D-net were used. Each station was intensively sampled to collect most macroinvertebrates in all types of habitat. The area sampled in each stalion was 6 m2. Physicochemical variables in general showed small fluctuations along the study; only conductivity and total dissolved solids exhibited significant changes, all related with high precipitation in the wet season. Macroinvertebrate cornmunity consisted of 113 genera, 63 families and seven phyla. Trichoptera was the most abundant group. The results indicate that the freshwater ecosystems in the study area present a high water quality corresponding to a oligo-mesotrophic system.