Development of a benthic multimetric index for the Serra da Bocaina bioregion in Southeast Brazil

Desenvolvimento de um índice multimétrico bentônico para a bioregião da Serra da Bocaina no Sudeste do Brasil

Abstracts

Brazil faces a challenge to develop biomonitoring tools to be used in water quality assessment programs, but few multimetric indices were developed so far. This study is part of an effort to test and implement programs using benthic macroinvertebrates as bioindicators in Rio de Janeiro State. Our aim was first to test the Multimetric Index for Serra dos Órgãos (SOMI) for a different area - Serra da Bocaina (SB) - in the same ecoregion. We sampled 27 streams of different sizes and altitudes in the SB region. Despite the environmental similarities, results indicated biological differences between reference sites of the two regions. Considering these differences, we decided to develop an index specific for the SB region, the Serra da Bocaina Multimetric Index (MISB). We tested twenty-two metrics for sensitivity to impairment and redundancy, and six metrics were considered valid to integrate the MISB: Family Richness, Trichoptera Richness, % Coleoptera, % Diptera, IBE-IOC index, EPT / Chironomidae ratio. A test of the MISB in eleven sites indicated it was more related to land-use and water physico-chemical parameters than with altitude or stream width, being a useful tool for the monitoring and assessment of streams in the bioregion.

biomonitoring; macroinvertebrates; freshwater ecoregions; watershed management; stream ecology

O Brasil enfrenta o desafio de desenvolver ferramentas de biomonitoramento para serem utilizadas em programas de avaliação da qualidade de águas, porém poucos índices multimétricos foram construídos para esta finalidade. Este estudo faz parte de um esforço para testar e implementar programas de biomonitoramento utilizando macroinvertebrados bentônicos como bioindicadores no Estado do Rio de Janeiro. Nosso objetivo foi primeiro testar se as métricas que compõem o Índice Multimétrico da Serra dos Órgãos (SOMI) eram válidas para serem aplicadas em um área diferente - Serra da Bocaina (SB) - pertencente à mesma ecoregião. Nós amostramos 27 riachos de diferentes tamanhos e altitudes na região da Serra da Bocaina. Apesar das similaridades ambientais, os resultados indicaram haver diferenças entre locais de referencia nas duas regiões. Considerando tais diferenças, nós desenvolvemos um índice específico para região da SB, denominado de Índice Multimétrico da Serra da Bocaina (IMSB). Testamos vinte e duas métricas quanto à sensibilidade e redundância. Seis métricas foram consideradas válidas para integrar o IMSB: Riqueza de Famílias, Riqueza de Trichoptera, % Coleoptera, % Diptera, índice IBE-IOC e Taxa EPT / Chironomidae. O teste do IMSB indicou que o índice estava mais relacionado aos parâmetros físicos e químicos da água e ao uso da terra do que com a altitude ou largura dos rios. Assim, consideramos uma ferramenta útil para monitorar e avaliar riachos na bioregião estudada.

biomonitoramento; macroinvertebrados; ecoregiões de água doce; manejo de bacia hidrográfica; ecologia de riachos

1. Introduction

The integrity of aquatic ecosystems can not be analyzed solely based on physical and chemical parameters of the water; it must consider the physical habitat structure, flow and channel modifications, biological alterations, and land-use in the watershed (Karr and Dudley, 1981). Among many tools to assess environmental impairments, biological indicators may provide useful information on the effects of impacts on the ecosystems. Many organisms may be used as bioindicators, and benthic macroinvertebrates are the most commonly used in bioassessment protocols. Macroinvertebrate assemblages may be used to indicate the quality of the environment, being particularly efficient for continuously registering environmental conditions (Johnson et al., 1993; King and Richardson, 2003; Gabriels et al., 2010).

Several programs of biological monitoring of aquatic ecosystems were developed from Kolkwitz and Marsson's (1909) saprobic system - based on the presence of indicative species and their tolerance to pollution - including the Biotic Condition Index (Winget and Mangun, 1979); Biological Monitoring Working Party Score System - BMWP (Armitage, et al., 1983), Indice Biotico Esteso - IBE (Ghetti, 1997), FBI index (Hilsenhoff, 1987, 1988), among others (Metcalfe, 1989). In the 1980s, the multimetric system (Karr et al., 1986; Karr 1991) became popular, especially in the United States (Plafkin et al., 1989; Barbour et al., 1996; Barbour et al., 1999; Gibson et al., 1996; Blocksom, 2003). This bioassessment framework is based on the establishment of reference areas which are compared to impaired sites. Recently, countries of the European Union, following the propositions defined by the European Community Water Framework Directive (EC 2000), adopted multimetric indices based on macroinvertebrates (Böhmer et al., 2004; Buffagni et al., 2004; Hering et al., 2004; Pinto et al., 2004; Vlek et al., 2004) as a primary tool to assess the ecological quality of waters.

In Brazil, research institutes traditionally adapted monometric biotic indices using macroinvertebrates for streams and rivers, specially the BMWP index (Junqueira and Campos, 1998). Recently, there is a great effort to develop and test bioassessment protocols in Brazil using benthic macroinvertebrates (CETESB 2002; Baptista et al., 2007; Mugnai et al., 2008; Buss and Borges, 2008; Moreno et al., 2009, Buss and Vitorino, 2010, Oliveira et al., 2011; Baptista et al., 2011; Ferreira et al., 2011, Couceiro et al., 2012). In Rio de Janeiro State, one multimetric index (Serra dos Órgãos Multimetric Index - SOMI; Baptista et al., 2007) was developed to Serra do Mar area. In this study, we developed and tested a Multimetric Index for Serra da Bocaina region (MISB), a different area in the same ecoregion.

2. Methods

2.1. Study area

Originally, the Atlantic Rainforest biome covered 1,360,000 km². Today, this is the most populated area in Brazil - 70% of the population lives in this region - and less than 8% of the biome preserve its original biotic characteristics (MMA/SBF, 2000). This study included two sections of the Serra do Mar mountain chain in Rio de Janeiro State: Serra dos Órgãos (SO) and Serra da Bocaina (SB) (Figure 1). The SO region covers an area of approximately 12,904 km², with 200 km² protected by the Serra dos Órgãos National Park (located between 22°26′58.43″ S and 42°59′08.21″ W). The Park protects forests mainly in high slope areas between 200 and 2,263 m.a.s.l. The climate is tropical super humid, with an annual average temperature of 18 °C and annual precipitation between 1,250 and 1,500 mm. The SB region is partially preserved by the Serra da Bocaina National Park, the largest preserved forest fragment in the State (around 1,000 km², located between and 22°40′-23°20′ S and 44°24′-44°54′ W), with 60% of native vegetation and the remainder consisting of a 30-y regenerated (secondary) forest. The climate is classified as temperate super humid with annual precipitation of 1,800 mm. Average temperature is around 16 °C but with a high variation between lowland areas (36-38 °C, around 200 m.a.s.l.) to upper areas (0-4 °C, with a maximum altitude of 2,132 m.a.s.l.) (Guimarães et al., 2000).

Figure 1
Map of Rio de Janeiro State. Light grey areas indicate original limits of the Atlantic rainforest and dark grey areas indicate forest remnants. Solid bold line indicates approximate limits of the bioregions of Serra dos Órgãos (A) and Serra da Bocaina (B).

2.2. Sample collection and analysis

Benthic samples were collected in 10 sites at SO region (all reference) and 27 sites at SB region (10 reference, 6 impaired and 11 test sites) during the dry season (June-August 2002 to 2004) using a Surber sampler (900 cm² area, 185 µm mesh). Twelve samples were collected at each site, three of each microhabitat (sediment, stone, pool litter and riffle litter), and pooled as one sample per site. Samples were preserved in the field with 80% ethanol and were fully examined with stereomicroscope in the laboratory. Identification to the lowest possible taxonomic level were performed using the available taxonomic keys (Odonata - Belle, 1992; Carvalho, 1989; Carvalho and Calil, 2000, Carvalho, et al., 2002, Ephemeroptera - Da Silva et al., 2003; Salles et al., 2004; Plecoptera - Olifiers et al., 2004; Hemiptera - Nieser and De Mello, 1997; Trichoptera - Angrisano, 1995, Wiggins, 1996; Coleoptera - Passos et al., 2007; other groups - Merritt and Cummins, 1996). All orders were identified to genus level, except for Diptera, Hemiptera and Lepidoptera, which were identified to family level. For Functional Feeding Groups determination, we used data available from Merritt and Cummins (1996) and Baptista et al. (2006) for Ephemeroptera.

In each sampling site, the Riparian Channel Environment Index (Petersen, 1992) and estimates of mean width of riparian cover were performed visually. The RCE index is calculated based on sixteen environmental parameters such as land-use patterns, stream channel morphology and riparian vegetation. For each parameter a score is given, summed, and the final score is compared to a table to determine one of the five classes of environmental integrity. Also, altitude (using a Garmin GPS76), river mean depth, width, water discharge (flotation method), pH (LabConte mPA-210p), and water temperature were measured. Water was sampled for further physical and chemical analysis in the laboratory (Conductivity, Total-P, Total-N, NH3-N, Cl- using a spectrophotometer Hach DR2500 and Total Alkalinity using titulometric method - FEEMA, 1979). Stream orders were determined using the Strahler system with 1:50,000 scale maps. The %Urban and %Forested areas were determined using satellite images (CBERS-2 High Resolution CCD Camera - at 20 m spatial resolution, 5 bands) in 200 m wide buffer zones upstream each sampled sites using the software ArcView 9.1. Range of coordinates of extreme sampled sites was: Serra dos Órgãos - 22°27′14″ S to 22°15′24″ S; 42°56′59″ W to 42°08′55″ W; Serra da Bocaina 23°17′26″ S to 22°50′55″ S; 44°43′54″ W to 43°59′47″ W. Sampling sites varied in altitude (10 to 1,575 m.a.s.l.) and stream order (1^st to 5^th), but were similar regarding substrate composition, being mainly dominated by stones (boulders, cobble and pebble) (Table 1). Sampling through this altitudinal gradient and stream sizes was performed to include these natural variations within the index, allowing a widespread application in the region.

Table 1
- Environmental and physical-chemical parameters measured at sites in Serra dos Órgãos and Serra da Bocaina regions, in Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil.

Parameter	Reference sites used for comparison among areas and for MISB development (SB)		Impaired sites used for MISB development	Test sites for application of the MISB
	Serra dos Órgãos (n = 10)	Serra da Bocaina (n = 10)	Serra da Bocaina (n = 6)	Reference sites (n = 6)	Intermediate sites (n = 4)	Impaired site (n = 1)
Altitude (m.a.s.l.)	160-1.200	87-1 200	35-506	442-1 575	10-241	10
Stream order	1-5	1-4	1-4	1-3	1-3	3
Mean width (m)	3-15	1.4-4.5	2.3-9	1.3-2.7	2.5-14	3
Mean depth (m)	0.1-0.5	0.03-0.2	0.1-0.3	0.07-0.1	0.1-0.2	0.4
Mean water velocity (m/s)	0.2-0.5	0.2-0.46	0.3-0.4	0.1-0.3	-	0.2
Mean water discharge (m3/s)	0.2-0.7	0.01-0.4	0.2-0.5	0.1-0.4	-	0.3
Water temperature °C	14-18.9	14.5-19	20.4-22.3	19.2-20.6	17.5-20.6	20.6
pH	6.8-7.4	5.1-7.9	6-7.5	7.1-8.1	6.3-7.4	6.5
Dissolved Oxygen (mg/L)	7.5-9.6	6.8-8.8	5.9-7.1	8.12-8.73	6.5-8.2	4.7
Conductivity (µS/cm)	17-34	5-36	20-39	10-32	23-27	67
Total-P (mg/L)	0.01-0.02	0.02-0.05	0.53-1.18	0.02-0.04	0.03-0.04	0.94
Total-N (mg/L)	0.01-0.17	0.00-0.08	2.32-4.46	0.00-0.03	0.79-1.97	36.87
NH3-N (mg/L)	0.00-0.25	0.01-0.06	0.74-3.79	0.06-0.08	0.29-0.35	20.88
Chlorides (mg/L)	1.6-8.7	11.7-19.5	6.84-10.76	11-22	6.84-8.8	13.69
Total Alkalinity (mg/L)	10.0-12.7	30.8-49.3	17.6-19.2	34.9-36.9	17.6	35.2
% Upstream area Urbanized	0-3	0-1	4-30	0-1	5-30	90
% Upstream area Forested	85-100	95-100	5-40	95-100	30-60	0
Riparian width (m)	≥ 50	≥ 50	2-4	≥ 50	20-30	0
Channelization (1 - Yes, 0 - No)	0	0	0	0	0	1

For both river basins, a site was considered as “reference” by meeting all the following criteria: water pH 6-8; Dissolved Oxygen ≥ 4 mg/L; land use with maximum of 20% of the basin area urbanized and ≥ 75% of the upstream basin area forested; width of the riparian range ≥ 15 m; no visible channelization, and a Excellent or Very Good classification according to the RCE index (Petersen, 1992). For the “impaired” condition, any of the following a priori conditions should be met: deforestation of ≥ 75% of the upstream area, and Poor classification according to the RCE index.

2.3. Development of the multimetric index for Serra da Bocaina (MISB)

Based on the procedures described in Klemm et al. (2003), Baptista et al. (2007) and Baptista et al. (2011) we followed four steps to develop the Multimetric Index for Serra da Bocaina (MISB). First we tested if metrics defined in the SOMI (Family Richness, Ephemeroptera + Plecoptera + Trichoptera (EPT) Richness, % Coleoptera, % Diptera, BMWP-CETEC, % Shredders) could be used for SB region. We tested if the composition and structure of the benthic assemblage in 10 reference sites at SO and 10 at SB region were similar and could be treated as the same bioregion (UPGMA Cluster Analysis using Bray-Curtis dissimilarity index for quantitative data and Jaccard similarity coefficient for qualitative data; PAST software - Hammer, et al., 2001). Then we calculated each of the 6 metrics used in the SOMI and verified if their values in SB reference sites were within the predicted range for reference conditions. We hypothesized that if the two regions had similar faunal structure and composition, and if the SOMI metric scores were applicable for the SB reference sites, this index could be used or adapted for the SB region. However, since differences were found between the two regions, the second step was to test the sensitivity of 22 metrics to detect differences between 10 reference and 6 impaired sites in the SB region, using Mann-Whitney U tests. Tested metrics were: 6 Richness Metrics - Total taxa, Family taxa, Ephemeroptera taxa, Plecoptera taxa, Trichoptera taxa, Ephemeroptera + Plecoptera + Trichoptera (EPT) taxa; 7 Composition Metrics - % Coleoptera, % Ephemeroptera, % Plecoptera, % Trichoptera, % Odonata, % Diptera and % EPT; 4 Tolerance Metrics - IBE-IOC, BMWP-CETEC, Baetidae / Ephemeroptera, EPT / Chironomidae; and 5 Trophic Metrics - % Shredders, % Collectors, % Predators, % Filterers, % Scrapers. The IBE-IOC (Mugnai et al., 2008) and the BMWP-CETEC (Junqueira and Campos 1998) are biotic indices adapted to Brazil. Metrics that failed to discriminate reference from impaired sites were eliminated. The remaining metrics were evaluated for redundancy using Pearson correlation coefficients. Metrics with a correlation coefficient r ≥ 0.8 were considered redundant. In this case, only one metric was included in the final index, often the easier and less time-consuming to calculate.

The third step was to integrate metrics considered valid in the MISB. The Continuous Scoring Method suggested by Frey (1977) was used to score or standardize the metrics values. Blocksom (2003) recommended it as the best option because it increases the sensitivity and stability of the resulting index. This method was originally used by Minns et al. (1994) in the littoral zone of the Great Lakes. Ganasan and Hughes (1998) and Klemm et al. (2003) used it in stream ecosystems. The scoring method uses the first and third quartile of values from each set of reference or impaired rivers. The scoring procedure is completed using these distribution metrics and two formulae (see below), to determine whether metric values increase or decrease when degradation increases.

The procedure used to apply the index in 11 sites test was achieved in five steps: (1) computing all six core metrics; (2) scoring the metrics using the formula (a) (see below) for metrics that decrease with increasing impairment and formula (b) (see below) for metrics that increase with increasing impairment; (3) applying a simple interpolation to adjust values to a range between 0-10 (negative values must be considered zero and the highest value must be considered 10); (4) multiplying the values of each one of the metrics times 1.6 (individual weights) in order to obtain values ranging from 0 to 100; (5) in this last step the values of each metric are summed to obtain a final score for the MISB. This final MISB value that results from the application of the index in each test site falls into one of five quality categories, indicating the ecological integrity of the assessed location.

Formule (a)

Formule (b)

A validation test of the MISB sensitivity was conducted in 11 sites located in the altitudinal gradient, judged to be representative of the degradation gradient. These sites were not used to build the index. The test was performed using a Principal Component Analysis (PCA) of environmental variables. The data matrix was standardized by applying , where x_i is the observed value, is the mean and σ is the standard deviation. The assessment of the index was done using a Pearson correlation between the scores of sites in PCA axis 1 and the MISB scores. Analyses were done using BioEstat 2.0 (Ayres et al., 2000).

3. Results

Cluster Analyses using Bray-Curtis Dissimilarity and Jaccard index were used to verify the similarity of structure and composition of benthic assemblages of 10 reference sites in Serra dos Órgãos (SO) and 10 in Serra da Bocaina (SB). Results showed sites of the two regions distinct biologically (Figure 2). This pattern may be a result of the higher richness of almost all macroinvertebrate orders found in SB reference sites, totaling a mean of 74 taxa per site (range of 64-90 taxa), while SO sites had a mean of 45 taxa per reference site (39-57 taxa). If we only consider total richness of EPT genera found in the two bioregions (65; with 33 Trichoptera, 25 Ephemeroptera and 7 Plecoptera), SB had 64 genera occurring in this region, while only 42 genera were found in SO sampling sites. Other major difference concerned the shredder functional feeding group: despite the small number of shredder taxa at both regions (8 in SB, 6 in SO), their relative abundance was higher in SB (around 10% of the total, while less than 1% of the total was usually found in SO sites).

Figure 2
UPGMA Cluster Analysis using Bray-Curtis dissimilarity index for macroinvertebrate assemblages collected in reference sites in the Serra dos Órgãos (1-10) and Serra da Bocaina (11-20) regions, Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil. Jaccard index had the same results and are not shown for brevity.

To check if SOMI metric scores for SB sites were compatible with the predicted range for SO reference sites we applied each of the six metrics used in the SOMI for the SB reference sites. Results showed that values of all metrics calculated for SB reference sites were compatible with those expected for reference sites in the SO region, but %Shredders and EPT richness metric values were much higher than the upper threshold expected for reference sites in SB region, indicating that thresholds should be re-dimensioned if these metrics should be used in the region (Figure 3).

Figure 3
Comparison of distributions of each metric composing the SOMI index for the Serra da Bocaina and Serra dos Órgãos regions. In the Box-and-Whisker plots, center lines represent the median, boxes represent the 25-75% quartiles, and bars represent the maximum and minimum numbers. P-levels were obtained using Mann-Whitney U tests.

Considering the biological differences between the two regions, we decided to test metrics and to develop an index for the SB region, the Serra da Bocaina Multimetric Index (MISB). So, we tested the sensitiveness of 22 metrics to detect differences between 10 reference and 6 impaired sites in the SB region. Fifteen metrics were able to discriminate these conditions according to the Mann-Whitney U test (p < 0.05): Total Richness, Family Richness, Ephemeroptera Richness, Plecoptera Richness, Trichoptera Richness, EPT Richness, Ratio EPT/Chironomidae, BMWP-CETEC, IBE-IOC, % Plecoptera, % Diptera, % Coleoptera, % Collector, % Scraper and % Predator. From the six metrics of the SOMI, only % Shredder was eliminated in this step. Then, we performed redundancy tests, using Pearson correlation coefficients for metrics from the same category. As expected, Richness metrics (Total, Family, EPT, Plecoptera and Trichoptera Richness) were highly correlated. From these five metrics, we chose two metrics to integrate the MISB: the fastest/easiest to calculate, Family Richness, and one which represented the regional biodiversity (Trichoptera, at genus-level). The BMWP and the IBE-IOC indices were also correlated, and we chose the latter because it was specifically developed for the Rio de Janeiro State. The other chosen metrics (EPT / Chironomidae, % Diptera, % Coleoptera) had low correlations with the other three metrics and between them. In summary, after following these steps, six metrics were selected for the MISB: Family Richness, Trichoptera Richness, EPT/Chironomidae, IBE-IOC Index, % Diptera and % Coleoptera (Figure 4). The upper and lower thresholds were calculated for each metric, based on the distribution of values among reference or impaired sites (Table 2). The sum of scores obtained for each metric resulted in the MISB final score, which was divided in five quality classes: Severely Impaired, Impaired, Regular, Good and Excellent (Table 3).

Figure 4
Metrics comparison between Reference (REF) and Poor sites at Serra da Bocaina region. In the Box-and Whisker plots, center line represent the median, boxes represent the 25-75% quartiles, and bars represent the maximum and minimum numbers. p-levels were obtained using Mann-Whitney U tests.

Table 2
- Expected responses with increased impairment and metric value thresholds for the six metrics selected to integrate the Multimetric Index for Serra da Bocaina region (MISB).

MISB metrics	Expected response with impairment	Metric values thresholds
Family richness	Decrease	Upper = 46
		Lower = 19
Trichoptera richness	Decrease	Upper = 23
		Lower = 4
EPT/Chironomidae ratio	Decrease	Upper = 1.1
		Lower = 0.2
IBE-IOC	Decrease	Upper = 14
		Lower = 2
% Coleoptera	Decrease	Upper = 13
		Lower = 2
% Diptera	Increase	Upper = 84
		Lower = 48

Table 3
- The MISB classification system, divided in five classes of environmental stream quality.

Class	Scores
Excellent	80-100
Good	60-79
Regular	40-59
Impaired	20-39
Severely impaired	0-19

For the test of the MISB was performed a Principal Components Analysis (PCA) on environmental variables (altitude, mean width, water temperature, pH, Conductivity, Total-P, Total-N, NH3-N, Cl-, Total Alkalinity, % Urban upstream area, %Forested upstream area, mean width of riparian cover, and RCE index). The first PCA axis explained 52.8% of the variance (eigenvalue = 7.92) and indicated the gradient of impairment. Highest positive loadings were related to good integrity land-use (% Forested area, Riparian width and RCE index), while highest negative loadings indicated urbanization (%Urban area, Total-Nitrogen and Total-Phosphorus) (Table 4). The pattern on the second axis (eigenvalue = 4.13, 27.5% variance explained) was unclear. The first PCA axis was highly correlated with MISB scores (r = 0.856, p < 0.001).

Table 4
- Factor loadings (PCA axes 1 and 2) of environmental parameters of 11 test-sites in the Serra da Bocaina region.

Variable	PCA Axis 1	PCA Axis 2
% forested area	0.342	0.024
Riparian width	0.319	0.165
RCE index	0.316	-0.163
Altitude	0.253	0.253
Dissolved oxygen	0.169	-0.329
Total alkalinity	0.157	0.376
pH	0.118	0.153
Cl-	0.106	0.416
Stream width	-0.156	-0.393
Water temperature	-0.257	-0.105
Conductivity	-0.278	-0.188
NH3-N	-0.291	0.271
Total-P	-0.292	0.273
Total-N	-0.297	0.259
% Urbanized area	-0.335	0.135

4. Discussion

Both studied regions were in the same mountain chain, same ecoregion, same vegetation dominium, at similar latitudinal and altitudinal range, and less than 300 km distant from each other. Based on this, we hypothesized that they would have similar faunal structure and composition at reference sites, allowing the application of the SO Multimetric Index, developed for one of those regions (Baptista et al., 2007). However, our results indicated that biologically they could be treated as two bioregions. The SB region often exhibited higher richness numbers, for all macroinvertebrate groups, but notably for Trichoptera (33 genera in SB region, 20 in SO region) and Ephemeroptera (24 genera in SB region, 16 in SO region). Although sites sampled at both regions were considered as “reference”, the SB region was better preserved than SO region. Historically, the SO region was modified - logging in the last 40-y, with widespread deforestation - and then occupied by secondary vegetation, which nowadays represent reference conditions. According to Harding, et al. (1998) past land-use activity, particularly agriculture, may result in long-term modifications to and reductions in aquatic diversity, regardless of reforestation of riparian zones.

In the last two decades, many studies emphasized the need to evaluate the faunal responses to stress at different spatial scales. Some studies found stronger relationships between macroinvertebrate fauna and environmental conditions at ecoregional level (Barbour et al., 1996, Reynoldson et al., 1997, Karr and Chu. 1997). Other studies, like our own, found macroinvertebrate fauna more associated with local aquatic habitat or to land-use adjacent to the stream than with strict ecoregional classification (Waite et al., 2000, Mykrä et al., 2004, Frimpong et al., 2005, Munn et al., 2009). It is logical to suppose that these differences, if they exist, they would result in biological indices as well. Therefore, it is advisable to test, and if necessary, develop new biological indices to indicate these local/regional conditions, even if areas are in the same ecoregion. Studies in Canada and USA indicate the need to adapt or create new biological indices for bioregions within an ecoregion (Fore et al., 1994, Maxted et al., 2000, McCormick et al., 2001, Sylvestre et al., 2005).

In this study, three (of six) metrics used in the SOMI Index were chosen to integrate the MISB - Family Richness, % Coleoptera and % Diptera. The BMWP-CETEC index was sensitive, but was substituted by the IBE-IOC because the latter was developed for the Rio de Janeiro State. The two other metrics which integrated the MISB were EPT / Chironomidae ratio and Trichoptera Richness because they had low redundancy with other metrics and represented a relevant portion of the SB fauna. The index composition with these six metrics (Family Richness, % Coleoptera, % Diptera, IBE-IOC index, EPT/Chironomidae ratio and Trichoptera Richness), was the most adequate for the SB region.

A common difficulty is to establish a biological index which discerns different levels of impairment in an altitudinal gradient. Frequently, historical and current land uses differ from upland to lowland areas, and there are scarce reference sites in areas where access is easier to human populations, usually at lowlands (Klemm et al., 2003). This problem is expected to be greater when the area where the index is applied includes more than one river basin or ecoregion. In the mountainous Serra do Mar region - located along the coast of 30% of Brazil - most human activities are located in lowland areas, therefore making altitude often negatively correlated with human impairment. In this study, to assure the sensitivity of the index to the measured impairment, we sampled reference and impaired sites along the altitudinal gradient and at streams with different sizes. Our results showed that the MISB was more related to land-use and water physical and chemical parameters than with altitude or stream width (Table 4). The fact that most MISB metrics are calculated using higher taxonomic levels also reduces the influence of altitude, since distribution of taxa at those levels usually occurs at broader areas and/or along the altitudinal gradient. Most metrics in the MISB require identification mostly to family-level (except for Trichoptera in genus-level). This is important for a biological index in Brazil, where identification of benthic macroinvertebrates at the species level is not yet possible due to inadequate taxonomic knowledge and lack of comprehensive taxonomic keys. It is important to notice that even in this higher level of taxonomic identification, the MISB responded well to a generalized measure of disturbance (Table 4) representing a wide variety of combined stressors, being an adequate and efficient tool for detecting environmental impacts. Our study indicated the importance of testing biological indices before using in new areas, even within the same ecoregion, and calls the attention that historical land-use should be considered as an important variable influencing indices based on macroinvertebrate assemblages.

The authors would like to thank the financial support of CNPq (Edital CNPq/PROEP 400107/2011-2 and CT-Hidro/PDJ) and the colleagues (Valdinei Valin and Denise Borges Assunção) of the LAPSA/IOC/FIOCRUZ for the water analysis of this study.

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Publication Dates

• Publication in this collection
  Aug 2013

History

• Received
  19 June 2012
• Accepted
  30 July 2012